BV 3797 

B6 
Copy 1 



mmmmmmm 




Sermonettes 



Wm, Cowa 






















•• !i liiiil 1 . 












: [j! :; :: si 





iB i i wwiM i iWii tm^q<i«WW» iHmm t ^ )ttnm^tHmnirtt^^ 




Class JiAL^llX 

Book J£i£ 

Copyright^ . 



CQHR1GHT DEPOSIT. 



EVANGELISTIC 
SERMONETTES 



BY 

REV. WM. COWAN BOYD 



THE LANGSTON PRESS 

CHICAGO 






To all who obey the divine injunction, "Go ye into 
all the world and preach the Gospel to every crea- 
ture," this little volume of evangelistic sermonettes 
is affectionately dedicated. 

W. C. B. 




JUL iu j 91 6 



COPYRIGHTED 1916 BY WM. COWAN BOYD 



> CI. A 4 3 3 8 2 

f 



ft 

1 



<0 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Saving Others, No. 1 5 

Christ and Zacchaeus 10 

A Eoyal Invitation and How It Was Treated 15 

The Love of God 20 

Wilt Thou Be Made Whole ? 25 

Christ or Barabbas ? 30 

Many Called but Few Chosen 35 

What Manner of Man Is This 40 

The Great Commission 45 

Winning Souls 50 

Blind Men 55 

The New Man 59 

Saving Others, No. 2 63 

What Shall I Do to Inherit Eternal Life ? 68 

He Brought Him to Jesus 72 

Temperance, Patience, Godliness 77 

Forgetting the Past and Embracing the Future 82 

Peter and John at the Temple 87 

David 's Confession 92 

Faith, Virtue, Knowledge 97 

Without a Wedding Garment 102 

The Water of Life 107 

Do It with Thy Might Ill 

Enduring to the End, No. 1 116 

Home Coming 120 

I s It Well with Thee ? 125 

Enduring to the End, No. 2 130 

Abide with Us 135 

Why Men Won 't Come to Christ 140 

The Second Coming 145 



HE SAVED OTHERS 

Matthew 27:42 
He saved others. 

This is one of the truest statements that was ever 
uttered by an enemy of Christ. There was scarcely 
a home in the land of the Prophets but felt the gra- 
cious influence of the Son of God. Their dead were 
raised ; their sick were cured ; their hungry were fed, 
and their broken-hearted were comforted by Him. 
He saved then and He saves now, for He is the same 
yesterday, to-day, and forever. 

My line of thought at this time will be very largely 
to the Christian. 

1st. Christ saves from a wasted life. 

When one comes to Christ and becomes His fol- 
lower, it is then that his life means more than it ever 
did before. Look for instance at John Bunyan in 
sin, the greatest swearer and all-around sinner in his 
home-town, but look at Bunyan in Christ, — immor- 
tal dreamer, a matchless soul-winner, a fearless 
preacher and one of the greatest prose-poets that ever 
made the gospel his song or the redemption of the 
world the passion of his heart. Look at Jerry Mc- 
Cauley sitting in a back alley, an outcast, not of what 
we call respectable society, but of the scum of New 
York slums. See this same man in Christ, with sins 

5 



6 EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 

pardoned and past exploits blotted out of God's book 
of remembrance, founding what to this day is called 
the Jerry McCauley Mission, within whose walls hun- 
dreds of brands have been plucked from the burning. 
Look at Zaccheus, wealthy, self -exalted (for he was 
up a tree, and that is where every self-exalted person 
is), his God riches, his aim to defraud those with 
whom he has commercial dealings. See him in Christ, 
humble, for he came down the tree ; generous, for he 
gave the half of his goods to feed the poor, and four- 
fold for every dollar gotten by fraud. 

God takes all kinds of men whose lives are being 
wasted, and if they will only let Him, He makes them 
a credit to their home-town, a valuable asset to the 
nation, and a power in the church. 

"I gave my life for thee, 

My precious blood I shed, 
That thou mightest ransomed be 

And quickened from the dead. 
I gave my life for thee; 

What hast thou given for me ? ' ' 

2nd. Christ saves from evil environment. 

His command through Paul, to the Christian every- 
where, is "Come out from among them; be ye sepa- 
rate; touch not the unclean thing." The hymn- 
writer had that thought in mind. I am sure, when he 

wrote "Shun evil companions, 

Bad language disdain, 
God's name hold in reverence, 
Don't take it in vain. ,, 



EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 7 

There are multitudes of people today in every 
country who are never seen in bad company; but 
yet their environment is not what God would have 
it, for they read literature which is far from being 
healthful to Christian growth. 

Dr. Talmage says, "What do you make of the fact 
that fifty per cent of the criminals in the jails and 
penitentiaries of this country are under twenty-one 
years of age? You go along the corridors of the 
prisons and you will find that nine out of ten came 
there from reading bad books or newspapers. The 
men and women will tell you so. Is not that a fact 
worthy the consideration of those whose families are 
dear to them? 

"Years ago there came forth a French authoress 
under the assumed name of George Sand ; she smoked 
cigars, she wore masculine apparel; she wrote with a 
style ardent, eloquent, graphic in its pictures, horri- 
ble in its suggestions, damnable in its results, and 
sending forth into the libraries and the homes of the 
world an influence that has not yet relaxed. Under 
the nostrils of your cities there is today a fetid, reek- 
ing, unwashed literature enough to poison all the 
fountains of virtue, and smite your sons and daugh- 
ters as with the wings of a destroying angel. Cursed 
are the books which make impurity decent and crime 
horrible, and hypocrisy noble. Ye authors who write 
them, ye publishers who print them, ye booksellers 
who distribute them, shall be cut to pieces; if not by 



8 EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 

an aroused public sentiment, then by Almighty God, 
who will sweep you to the lowest pit of perdition, ye 
murderers of souls." 

A young man when dying a few years ago, gave 
as a reason for his wickedness the fact that early in 
life he became very much interested in IngersolPs 
"Mistakes of Moses." Benjamin Franklin said that 
the reading of Cotton Mather's essay, "To do good," 
moulded his entire life. May the Lord deliver us 
from the evil environment of bad or even question- 
able literature, and may we infuse enthusiasm into 
the dissemination of literature calculated to bless 
mankind. 

3rd. The Lord saves from the stagnant influence 
of tradition. 

I know that we are heirs to the accomplishments of 
forgotten ages, but we must press on toward the 
mark for the prize which will be presented to the 
faithful. "When President Eliot became the head 
of Harvard University, he made some changes in the 
handling of affairs connected with that institution. 
Some of the officials were not pleased and began to 
find fault, but under his administration Harvard 
grew from a membership of 400 to 5,000 with a fac- 
ulty as large as the entire membership was when 
he took charge. 

When a young man became superintendent of a 
little Sunday School he changed the chairs around, 
which made the room present a different appearance. 



EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 9 

Some of the teachers and members of the church be- 
gan to criticize, but his efforts were blessed to a 
great extent and the attendance increased with al- 
most every session. I do not say that it was the 
changing of the chairs that brought the results, but 
I do say that the attitude of that young man demon- 
strated the fact that he was not going to be buried 
in a rut, as evidently his predecessors were. Napo- 
leon and Grant paid very little attention to rules 
which govern military strategy, and were often de- 
nounced, but Napoleon became the greatest military 
man of his time and Grant stopped the Civil War. 
Their motto was "Forward regardless of precedent," 
and this determination, combined with good common- 
sense, helped them to win where others failed. 

I am sure that my Lord can save from a wasted 
life, evil environment and the stagnant influence of 
tradition. 



CHRIST AND ZACCHEUS 

Luke 19:5 

Come down, for today I must abide 

at thy house. 

Christ was on his way to Jericho, and a great 
crowd surrounded him. Zaccheus, a rich publican, 
was very anxious to see him. He felt that he had a 
poor chance of doing so, because of his size — being 
very small of stature, and because of the greatness 
of the crowd — but so determined was he to see this 
great wonder-worker that he ran before the people 
and climbed up a tree so that he could look down 
upon Christ as He passed. 

When the Saviour came to the place, He looked 
up and said, "Zaccheus, make haste and come down, 
for today I must abide at thy house/' This message 
of nineteen hundred years ago is a message to many 
men and women today. 

1st. Zaccheus was a seeking sinner. 

I don't say that he was a seeking sinner in the 
sense in which we often speak of such, but he wanted 
to see Jesus and he simply pushed aside anything 
which stood between him and that accomplishment. 
When a sinner starts out to look for Christ it won't 
be long before he finds Him, whether it be curiosity 

10 



EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES H 

on his part or a real determination to come into 
spiritual contact with God's only Son. 

Zaccheus was not only a sinner, but he was a pub- 
lican and detested by the Jews, but that did not hin- 
der Christ extending to him an opportunity to come 
into the kingdom. There is no one too far away from 
God to be reached by Christ and His gospel. 

In the city of New York, a short time ago, there 
lived a man who was as vile as could be found any- 
where. In fact, he was so vile that even his own 
class detested his company and threatened to ostra- 
cize him. But one day God's Spirit awakened him 
to a realization of his awful condition and drew his 
attention to Christ as his only hope. He immediately 
sought to see Jesus, and he had not long to wait, for 
Christ is not very far from any one of us. He found 
Him in the Bible, and was so captivated by His 
charming personality and offer of regeneration, that 
he at once gave himself up, body and soul, into His 
keeping. Today he is one of the most successful 
Christian workers in that city, a soul winner of great 
power. 

There is one thing that ought to encourage the sin- 
ner, and that is, that Christ is not only a Saviour, but 
a seeking one. Hear Him as He says, "I came to 
seek and to save that which was lost." 

2nd. Zaccheus was a determined sinner. 

When he saw the crowd and thought of his small 
stature he might have said, "There is no use in try- 



12 EVANGELISTIC SEKMONETTES 

ing; I won't be able to see Him anyway/' but his 
determination enabled him to overcome those obsta- 
cles, and soon he was in a position to see Jesus. 

A good many young men and women whose chance 
for success may seem very small to them; if they 
only had a little of the kind of determination which 
Zaccheus possessed they would soon win in life. 
Julius Caesar wrote his famous Commentaries in 
moments that he snatched from the cares and toils 
of military campaigns. Robert Bloomfield's literary 
acquirements were made when he was learning the 
trade of a shoemaker, and afterward while he worked 
at the same business as a journeyman. When Albert 
Barnes first thought of preparing his commentary 
on the Bible, his hands were full; but finally he de- 
cided to accomplish the great work by rising and 
spending an hour before breakfast upon it. He made 
spare moments for the emergency, and in this way 
finished one of the greatest productions on the Bible 
that has ever been written. It was determination 
that made them successful, and it is a mighty asset 
for any man to possess, either in the commercial or 
spiritual life. 

The story is told of a young girl who was threat- 
ened with expulsion from home if she persisted in 
attending church. But threats could not intimidate 
her determined heart, for every Sunday she went to 
service. Finally her ungodly parents concluded that 
she had something worth while which they lacked 



EVANGELISTIC SEBMONETTES 13 

i i *'•»'* r iii 

and which they ought to have. They decided to go 
with her to church where the gospel was preached in 
simplicity, and very soon became interested in the 
Christ who had blessed and made her young life 
beautiful. 

May God give unto us the determined spirit in 
service for Him. 

3rd. Zaccheus became a reformed sinner. 

Listen to him as he comes down the tree to where 
Christ was: "If I have taken anything from any 
man by false accusation I restore unto him four- 
fold/ ' Contact with Christ makes a man uncom- 
fortable until he rectifies as nearly as possible that 
which he has wronged. 

In the United States we have a fund known as a 
"Conscience Fund," and it is remarkable how that 
fund is swelled at times. Men who have robbed their 
fellows and w r ho don't like to go back to them with 
the spoils, send the money to that fund, and in doing 
so alleviate the pangs of their conscience. Zaccheus 
went right to those from whom he had stolen, and 
gave fourfold for all he had taken. I admire him 
for his straightforwardness. You cannot be a Chris- 
tian and steal, or do anything that is wrong without 
suffering. Our prayer should be, "God, keep me in 
a plain straight path." 

The Earl of Hopetown, in Scotland, has an old 
brass-bound leather-covered ledger, which he prizes 
very highly. It belonged to John Hope, the founder 



14 EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 

of the family, who had a shop in Edinburgh two 
hundred years ago. The first entry in that ledger 
reads, "Lord, keep me and this book honest." If 
every merchant since had adopted John Hope's prac- 
tice, there would certainly be a higher standard of 
commercial morality than at present exists in the 
business world. 

The religion of Christ always reforms bad men and 
makes those who are moral better. As Christ came to 
Zaccheus with a blessing so long ago, He comes to 
you today with the blessing you need. Will you come 
to Him and appropriate it? 

Do not delay. Now is the accepted time, and now 
is the day of salvation. 



A ROYAL INVITATION AND HOW IT WAS 
TREATED 

Luke 14:17 

Come, for all things are now ready, and they all 

with one consent began to make excuse. 

A rich man in the East, at great expense, provided 
a supper and invited many to it, but, strange to say, 
when the time came for the arrival of the guests not 
one came, but all sent excuses. One said, "I have 
bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it ; 
I pray thee have me excused." If he bought the 
ground without seeing it or having some competent 
person see it for him he reminds me of a man in 
Minneapolis. A number of years ago this man in- 
vested in a piece of real estate without seeing it. 
Three months after the business transaction he went 
to look at his property, but when he arrived he was 
very much humiliated to find it located at the bot- 
tom of Lake Harriet, described as being very good 
soil but just a little too wet. 

Another said, "I have bought five yoke of oxen 
and I must go and prove them. I pray thee have me 
excused." If he invested in the oxen without trying 
them, he proved himself to be a very poor business 

15 



16 EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 

man, and I am not sure that his host lost very mvch 
through his absence. 

The third said, "I have married a wife, and the-'e- 
fore I cannot come." He must have been a model 
husband, and I have thought that it would be a good 
thing for this and other countries if husbands were 
as much devoted to their wives as he apparently was, 
and not quite so much interested in other mei s 
wives. A man on one occasion asked John McNeil 
where Cain got his wife, and McNeil told him tl vt 
he was so much interested in his own wife that e 
never had had any time to turn his attention j 
Cain's wife. 

I am sure that the spiritual application of this 
old-time story must be seen by every Christian. God. 
at a tremendous cost, has prepared a feast for all in- 
cluded in "Whosoever," and has sent His servants 
into the world to issue the invitations. This has been 
going on for nineteen hundred years, many have re- 
sponded by coming, while many more have absented 
themselves and sent excuses. 

I wish at this time to speak briefly of some of the 
excuses with which we meet in trying to influence 
men and women to come to this great gospel feast, 
where humanity alone can find satisfaction. 

1st. I don't need salvation, for I have never done 
anything worthy of condemnation. 

I don't care how good man may be, I am sure that 
he is not any better than Nicodemus was, and Christ 

v 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 17 

said to him, "Ye must be born again." I question it 
very much if there is one in the world today who 
can say with the young ruler. "All these have I 
observed from my youth, ' ' meaning some of the com- 
mandments; and yet Christ said to him, "Yet lack- 
est thou one thing." 

When the Duke of Kent, Queen Victoria's father, 
was on his death-bed he expressed some concern as 
to his personal salvation. His physician tried to 
comfort him by talking of his honorable life and the 
distinguished position in which Providence had 
placed him. The Duke stopped him by saying, "It is 
not that. If I am to participate in the marriage 
supper of the Lamb, I can only get there as a poor 
sinner trusting in an all sufficient Saviour." The 
Duke was right, and the sooner man believes as he 
did the sooner will there be a rush toward God's 
great supper table. 

2nd. There are a good many in the church who 
are no better than I. 

America is the greatest nation in the world in my 
estimation, and no nation has more crooks. Because 
this is so, is that any reason why I should not be- 
come a citizen? An Irishman was seeking to be- 
come a citizen of this country, and when he went to 
get his papers the clerk asked him if he had read 
the Constitution. The Irishman said, "No, I haven't 
even seen it." "Have you read the Declaration of 
Independence?" said the clerk; and to his surprise 



18 EVANGELISTIC SEBMONETTES 

the applicant for citizenship had not read that either. 
Somewhat aroused by the Irishman's ignorance, he 
said, "Will you please tell me what you have read?" 
The answer was, "I' have red hair on the top of me 
head. ' ' I understand he got his papers. He had not 
read the Constitution of this country, nor had he any 
knowledge of the Declaration of Independence, but 
he had an earnest desire to become a citizen of the 
world's greatest republic, and because there were 
crooks in the country he was not going to stay out. 
The excuse for not coming to this gospel feast 
because there are some in the church whose life 
does not tally with their profession, is a very weak 
one indeed. It would be well to look for a better 
one. 

3rd. I have often said that I would not become a 
Christian nor ally myself with the church during a 
revival. Why such a foolish resolution? Don't you 
know that the revival is of God? Have you ever 
thought of that great revival in Egypt when God, 
through the instrumentality of Moses and Aaron, 
brought out from the tyranny of Pharaoh and sent 
toward the promised land three million of His chil- 
dren ? 

Look at the story of Pentecost recorded in the sec- 
ond chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. There we 
find three thousand persons coming into the Kingdom 
of God in one day. Think of the revival in this 
country in '57 and in Great Britain in '59, when 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 19 

thousands of men and women came and partook of 
this gospel feast. 

For Christ's sake and your own good, don't make 
any more silly excuses, but come, for all things are 
now ready ; or, as the poet has put it : 

"Come, for the feast is spread; 
Hark to the call! 
Come for the living bread, 
Broken for all. 

Come to His house of wine, 
Low on His breast recline, 
All that He hath is thine; 
Come, sinner, come. 

Come where the fountain flows — 
River of life, 
Healing for all thy woes, 
Doubting and strife: 

Millions have been supplied, 
No one was e 'er denied ; 
Come to the crimson tide; 
Come, sinner, come." 



THE LOVE OF GOD 

Rom. 5:8 

God commandeth His love toward us, in that, 

while we were yet sinners, Christ 

died for us. 

On one occasion Charles Spurgeon, the great Lon- 
don preacher, went out into the suburbs of that city 
to visit one of the deacons of his church. When he 
got there he discovered that the deacon had built a 
new barn, and on the weather-vane of that barn he 
had printed this sentence, "God is love." Standing 
there, Spurgeon began to wonder what his deacon 
really meant by having such a sentence on the weath- 
er-vane of his barn. When he met the deacon he 
asked him if he meant to convey the idea to all who 
passed that God's love is as changeable as the wind 
that blows. He was agreeably surprised when the 
deacon said, "No, but I mean to convey the idea 
that God is love, no matter which way the wind 
blows." Man may trample this love under his feet 
and rush headlong to ruin, but it remains the 
same. 

I think that the most beautiful lines on this sub- 
ject that I have ever read are the following: 

20 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 21 

" Could we with ink the ocean fill, 
And were the sky of parchment made, 
Were every blade of grass a quill 
And every man a scribe by trade, 
To write the love of God above 
Would drain the ocean dry; 
Nor could the scroll contain the whole, 
Though stretched from sky to sky." 

I wish to speak of three ways by which God shows 
his love for man: 

1st. By pardoning his sin. 

"If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to for- 
give us, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 

hi Daniel Webster's day there lived an old man 
whose name was Colby ; so wicked was this man that 
everybody who knew him thought that he and his 
wickedness were so inseparable that they would lie 
down in the grave together. But, contrary to what 
everybody expected, the love of God captured his 
wicked heart one day, and John Colby resolved that 
by God's grace his life from that time would be clean 
and honorable. The change was so pronounced thai 
everyone was surprised. But it lasted and became 
greater in its power as the days went by. Daniel 
Webster used to say, "If any man wants to know 
what the love of God can do, let him look at John 
Colby." Well might the poet sing: 

"God loved the world of sinners lost, 
And ruined by the fall; 
Salvation full at highest cost 
He offers free to all." 






22 EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 

2nd. By using the rod. 

"Whom the Lord loveth, them He chasteneth, and 
scourgeth every son whom He receiveth." 

This punishment will be administered in more than 
one way, perhaps. Some are smitten with an accus- 
ing conscience, and some with physical illness, others 
with bereavement, and still others with financial re- 
verses. 

"God moves in a mysterious way 
His wonders to perform." 

But there are thousands of people in the world today 
who will rise and tell us in testimony meetings how 
God laid His rod upon them, and how they now 
appreciate the punishment which He administered. 
One of the most powerful testimonies that I have 
ever heard was given by a man who had been a 
backslider. He told us that while he was living a 
lukewarm life that he neither enjoyed the company 
of God's people nor the company of those who were 
openly wicked. He was of all men most miserable, 
so miserable that one night he was about to commit 
suicide, when the still small voice of God's Spirit 
whispered: " Return unto Me and I will heal your 
backsliding." He returned, and God in His infinite 
mercy forgave him, and the night that I heard his 
testimony was the eve of his departure for India, 
where he was going as a missionary. 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 23 

The Latin poet Juvenal was right when he wrote : 

' ' Trust me no torture that the poets feign, 
Can match the fierce, unutterable pain, 
He feels, who night and day, devoid of rest, 
Carries his own accuser in his breast. " 

3rd. By sacrifice. 

"God so loved the world that He gave His only 
begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should 
not perish, but have everlasting life." 

I have read of a patriot's love for his country, and 
of a mother's love for her child, but I have never 
outside the Bible read of a father sacrificing his only 
begotten son in order that his enemies might be 
benefited. Yet, this is what God has done for a world 
gone mad in wickedness and rebellion. 

"If one fond mother in her heart possessed 
Maternal love within a single breast, 
Of all the mothers since the world began, 
? Twere nothing like the love of God to man. 9J 

I often wonder how much we really appreciate the 
great love wherewith He has loved us, and the inter- 
est He has shown in trying to bring us back into His 
fold. The best way to show our gratefulness is by 
accepting His Son to be our Saviour, and walking 
in His footsteps till the end of life. It will not al- 
ways be easy, but then it is gloriously worth while. 

Wendell Phillips was lecturing in a town twelve 
miles outside Boston one night. When the meeting 
had ended it was very dark and cold, and the last 



24 EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 

train had gone. His friends rallied around him and 
tried to induce him to stay in Boston till morning. 
They spoke of the distance, the darkness, the cold, 
and the dangers of the journey, that at that time of 
the night could only be made by horse and buggy. 
When they had exhausted their efforts to induce him, 
he looked at them and with eyes sparkling, said, "I 
know all that, but at the end I shall see Annie Phil- 
lips, and I must go." 

So, my friends, at the end of the Christian life 
we shall see the King in His beauty, and in the mean- 
time may we " Labor for the Master, from the dawn 
till setting sun." 



WILT THOU BE MADE WHOLE? 

John 5:6 
Wilt thou be made whole? 

The interesting story found in this chapter is one 
which has been blest to thousands of men and women 
in days gone by. Just outside Jerusalem we are 
told there was a mysterious pool known as the "Pool 
of Bethesda." It was mysterious in that at a cer- 
tain season of the year an angel descended into it 
and troubled the water, and whoever stepped into it 
first after the water was troubled was made whole 
of whatever disease he had. 

Christ was passing this pool on His way to Jeru- 
salem, and saw a man beside it who had been afflicted 
by an infirmity for thirty-eight years, and, going 
up to the poor fellow, said: "Wilt thou be made 
whole?" He was met with the answer, "Sir, I have 
no man when the water is troubled to put me into 
the pool, but while I am coming another steppeth 
down before me." Jesus said unto him, "Rise, take 
up thy bed and walk," and immediately the man 
was made whole and did as he was told. 

The subject which draws our attention from this 
narrative is the "Impotency of man without Christ/' 

25 



26 EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 

and I wish to speak of impotency in the individual, 
in the church, and in the home. 

1st. The individual. 

Every man in the spiritual sense is impotent un- 
til he comes into contact with Christ, the great 
magnet, and every man who is touched with that 
magnet has a peculiar power imparted to him. A 
man in trouble once wrote to a friend, saying, "I am 
in a hole and I want you to come and pull me out." 
His friend replied, "I am sorry that I can't help 
you, old fellow, but if you are in a hole that you 
can't get out of, I am coming to see that hole; it 
must be a wonder." That is the kind of treatment 
that a harsh world often gives, but not so with Christ, 
for 

"He is near 
To comfort and cheer 
Just when we need Him most." 

The parable of the Good Samaritan illustrates 
what Christ is willing and able to do for the down- 
and-out spiritually, and there are thousands of men 
in the Christian ranks today who testify to the fact 
that, though wounded and bruised by sin and Satan 
and shunned by many church members, Christ, in 
His loving-kindness, healed them and gave unto them 
power to grow strong in the Lord, and an elasticity 
to run and not be weary in Christian service. 

My friend, if you are impotent in the service of 
the King, you don't have to remain so, for while you 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 27 

read this the Holy Spirit is near to do more for you 
than you anticipate if you will ask Him. 

Mr. Moody was engaged in Sunday School work 
for several years, but was helpless in the way of 
much accomplishment until he admitted his weakness 
and relied entirely on God's power. Then, as one 
has eloquently spoken, "He put one hand on America 
and the other on Europe, and both continents moved 
toward the Lamb of God." 

2nd. The church. 

If I were asked the question, "Why is it that the 
church is so impotent in this age ? ' ' my answer would 
be this: "Because she has not been using her God- 
given power." She has been acting, like Jonah, in 
willful disobedience on many occasions. God has 
demanded of her certain service, and because that 
service appeared hard she has turned about and gone 
in the opposite direction. She has been acting like 
Samson, who lost his strength by placing his head 
in Delilah's lap; worldly amusement and church 
service will never work well together. She has been 
acting like Ananias and Sapphira, who lied regard- 
ing their gifts or contributions toward Christian ex- 
tension. If the church would become the power in 
this age that the early church was, then she had bet- 
ter make the first church an earnest study. The 
early church was a praying church; it was a studious 
church, and it was perfectly natural for it to become 
a powerful church. 



28 EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 

A young man preached for Dr. Broughton some 
time ago; he was young and timid; the congregation 
did not expect much, and he knew it. Just before 
the service began Broughton went into his study, and 
there he found the young man prostrate on the floor 
in prayer. Needless to say, he preached a powerful 
sermon. The people inquired, " Where did he get 
such power ? ' ' and the answer was : He got it from God. 
He was a prayerful man, therefore a powerful man. 

Broughton says, "I went on one occasion to hear 
a distinguished preacher, but was disappointed when 
an old man stood before me that day as preacher. 
He was very seedy looking, but he had not gone far 
before I was with him. I walked with him on the 
platform, I gestured with him, I cried with him, and 
I laughed with him; and why? because he knew 
his Bible. He was a studious man, therefore a 
powerful man in the pulpit." And I am of the 
opinion that when the church cuts loose from worldly 
amusement and exaggeration and is noted for obedi- 
ence in service, prayerful and studious, that no 
longer will she be looked upon as being impotent. 

3rd. The home. 

Why is it that the home, in many cases, has be- 
come impotent? Without any hesitation, I answer: 
Because of the removal of the family altar, and the 
adoption of the card table. I have yet to meet a 
card-playing Christian who amounts to a cent in 
aggressive Christian work. 



EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 29 

Again, fathers and mothers will, in the home, and 
before their children, criticize every church officer, 
from pastor to janitor, and then foolishly wonder 
why their boys and girls won't become Christians. 
More than once fathers and mothers have come to 
me and with tears in their eyes asked me to preach 
a sermon against card-playing, and try to get their 
children, especially their boys, back to church. Of 
course, I couldn't do much, for they taught their 
boys to play cards, and turned them against the 
church by their foolish criticism. 

A farmer in North Carolina once drove with two 
highly mettled horses into town. He was just about 
to enter a store when the horses became frightened 
and began to dash down the street. When they were 
brought to a stand-still and friends rushed to rescue 
the bleeding and mangled body of the man, one 
stooped over him and tenderly asked, "Why did you 
sacrifice yourself for horses and wagon?" He 
gasped, as his spirit took its flight, "Go and look in 
the wagon." They looked, and there asleep in the 
straw lay his little boy. As they laid the dead hero 
in his grave no one said the sacrifice was too great. 

When fathers and mothers become as much inter- 
ested in saving the souls of their boys and girls as 
that man was in saving the body of his son, it will 
not be long until home impotency is replaced by 
home power. 

May that day soon come. 



CHRIST OR BARABBAS 

Matthew 27:21 

Whether of the twain will ye that I 

release unto you? 

God has given unto every sane man and woman 
the power to choose. 

There are times in the life of every one when it 
is absolutely necessary to make a choice. This is so 
not only in connection with material things, but also 
with regard to spiritual things. There are at least 
two kinds of choice, good and bad, and to these I 
wish to call your attention largely by illustration. 

1st. Bad choices. 

When God made the world and put our first par- 
ents in its most beautiful part, he said unto them, 
"Of every tree in the garden thou may'st freely eat, 
but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil thou 
shalt not eat, for in the day thou eatest thereof thou 
shalt surely die." 

No sooner had God given them that command and 
left the garden than Satan entered, armed with first- 
class subtlety, and began his destructive work with, 
"Thou shalt not surely die for God doth know that 
in the day ye eat thereof ye shall be as Gods, know- 
ing good and evil.'*' 

30 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 31 

Now God has given His command and Satan has 
had his say, and the first pair of human beings are 
doing some thinking. The tree was pleasant to the 
eye ; it was good for food. It was looked upon as 
being able to make one wise. The moment to choose 
has come and the forbidden fruit is taken, and a 
choice has been made that ruined a race, "For as by 
one man's disobedience many were made sinners.' 7 

And so the first choice on record is a bad one. A 
good many years later another choice was about to 
be made, for the servants of Abraham and the serv- 
ants of Lot were not living on the most agreeable 
terms, and Abraham, being a lover of peace, was 
determined to have it regardless of material loss. 
After weighing the matter carefully he went to Lot 
with this proposition, "Let there be no strife be- 
tween thy herd-men and my herd-men. Is not the 
whole land before you? Lift up your eyes and look, 
and if you wish to go North then I will go South, 
and if you wish to go East then I will go West." 
Lot lifted up his eyes and beheld the well-watered 
plains of Jordan. These he chose and pitched his 
tent toward Sodom. The businessmen, I suppose, 
thought that Lot made a good choice, but it was the 
worst thing he ever did. The men of Sodom were 
wicked and we fear that too much contact with them 
robbed Lot of much of his piety, and reduced Ins in- 
fluence for good to almost nothing. 

Sodom was destroyed, Lot's possessions in that 



32 EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 

city were burned, his wife reduced to a worthless 
monument and his sons-in-law scoffed at his warning. 

His choice looked good to begin with, but it really 
ranks among the worst ever made. 

We now come to the choice of the text, Whether 
of the twain will ye that I release unto you? 

This is a choice between the Son of God and one of 
the worst of the sons of men. 

Barabbas was known to the people as a murderer., 
Christ had healed their sick and raised their dead; 
his life was free from sin. 

Pilate, the Roman Governor, put to them the ques- 
tion at the top of this sermon and their answer re- 
cords the choice that sent to Calvary God's own Son. 

2nd. Good choices. 

The first one to which I ask your attention was 
that made by Moses. By faith, Moses, when he was 
come to years, refused to be called the son of 
Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction 
with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of 
sin for a season, esteeming the reproach of Christ 
greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt, for 
he had respect unto the recompense of the re- 
ward. 

Joshua, who succeeded Moses as leader of the Is- 
raelites out of the wilderness into the land of Canaan, 
realized that his end was near, and he wanted his 
followers to renew their covenant with God; gather- 
ing all the tribes of Israel to Shechem he narrated to 



EVANGELISTIC SEKMONETTES 33 

them the blessings which had been bestowed upon 
them, finishing with, "And if it seem evil unto you 
to serve the Lord choose you this day whom ye will 
serve; whether the Gods which your fathers served 
that were on the other side of the flood or the Gods 
of the Amorites in whose land ye dwell; but as for 
me and my house, we will serve the Lord." 

I am certain that some real thinking was done 
while Joshua was talking, and when he closed his 
speech it didn't take them long to decide, for they 
said, "God forbid that we should forsake the Lord 
to serve other Gods." 

When Horace Bushnell was awakened to think 
seriously regarding his attitude toward God and 
the influence for evil that he was exerting over the 
young men of Yale (where he was the most popular 
teacher), by his stand on the subject of Christ, he 
went to his room one night and locking the door, 
he dropped to his knees and asked God for guidance, 
assuring him that if he were convinced that Christ 
was his son and the world's Redeemer, he would ac- 
cept Him as his saviour and serve Him as such be- 
fore the world. In a short time, by reading the four 
accounts given in the gospels of the life work of 
Jesus, he was satisfied that he was God's Son and 
the only Saviour of man. The time had come for 
him to make a choice and he chose Christ and many 
of the students of Yale followed his example. 

I have set before yon three bad choices and three 



34 EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 

good ones. I could give you a hundred more, but 
these are enough. 

In closing, I ask you, "What have you done with 
Jesus? You may get along fairly well without Him 
now, but the day is coming when you will need His 
services at the bar of God's justice. 

li Today the Saviour calls: Oh, listen now! 

Within these sacred walls to Jesus bow; 
Today the Saviour calls; for refuge fly, 

The storm of justice falls ; and death is nigh. 
The spirit calls today; yield to his power, 

Oh grieve him not away ; 'tis mercy *s hour. ' ' 



MANY CALLED BUT FEW CHOSEN 

iviatthew 22:14 
For many are called, but few are chosen. 

The plan of salvation is plain, easy to understand, 
and is for everybody. This will be seen in such pass- 
ages as the great commission "Go ye into all the 
world, and preach the gospel to every creature." 
Also, "And it shall come to pass that whosoever 
shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." 

But it is evident that all men and women will not 
be saved, but only those who repent of sin, and take 
up their cross and follow Jesus. 

1st. Repentance. 

The Westminster definition of repentance is, 

"Repentance unto life is a saving grace whereby 
a sinner out of a true sense of sin, and apprehension 
of the mercy of God in Christ, doth with grief and 
hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full 
purpose of and endeavor after new evidence." 

Repentance unto life is a change of mind, and a 
change of mind means a change of attitude. Sain 
Jones said that repentance unto life is, "not only be- 
ing sorry for having committed sin, but being sorrj 
enough to have nothing more to do with sin. n 

There is a vast difference between Godly sorrow 

35 



36 EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 

and worldly remorse; worldly remorse very often 
leads to death, but Godly sorrow leads to forgiveness 
and eternal life. 

Judas and Peter illustrate this thought, Judas was 
remorseful and took his own life ; Peter repented and 
was forgiven. 

The Prodigal son too, changed his mind, and in a 
short time we see him making rapid progress toward 
home. 

One reason why a good many don't repent is be- 
cause they don't think. 

A young lady said to Dr. Torrey, "Don't talk to 
me like that. You make me think seriously, and I 
don't like to think." It is always encouraging to 
find a young man or woman thinking. "Well might 
the poet say, "In solitude I often come, and find my 
sweetest joys." Dr. Broughton says that a criminal' 
drew his attention one time to that verse, "The wages 
of sin is death." "Oh," said he, "I wish I could 
have understood this a year ago as I do today. ' ' The 
trouble with him lay in the fact that he didn't think 
about it. Very little is accomplished without think- 
ing. Pope has said, c ' Character makes the man, ' ' the 
Bible says, "Thinking makes character" — "For as 
a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." 

If we go back into the history of arts and inven- 
tions we shall find an Englishman sitting under a 
tall oak. He spies a spider spinning his web from 
tree to tree; he goes home and shuts himself up in 



EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 37 

his room for days; when he comes forth he aston- 
ishes the world with a plan for a suspension bridge. 
You say he was a genius, he was just a thinker. 
, Professor Morse gave to the world magnetic teleg- 
raphy, a boon of priceless value. Cyrus W. Field 
swung the lightning under the sea and cabled the 
continents together. James Y. Simpson discovered 
the anesthetical properties of chloroform and thereby 
has destroyed nine-tenths of the horrors of surgery. 
The reason why Morse and Field and Simpson had 
success and became a blessing to mankind was be- 
cause they thought. 

And if the sinner is going to be saved and made a 
blessing to others, he must do as David, who said, 
"I thought upon my ways and turned my feet unto 
thy testimonies." 

2nd. Taking up the Cross and following Jesus. 

"Verily, I say unto you, he that is ashamed to 
confess Me before men, him will I also be ashamed 
to confess before My Father." And again, "He 
that will not take up his cross and follow Me, is not 
worthy of Me." No man can take up the cross and 
do the work connected with it, the way it ought to 
be done, except his heart is right with Cod. 

A Bible was prepared for the "World's Fair," a1 
a cost of one thousand dollars. When the lids were 
opened it was found to be nothing more than an ordi- 
nary Bible. All the extra work was on the outside. 

It was that which explained its value. It is Chris- 



38 EVANGELISTIC SEBMONETTES 

tian activity which makes the Christian valuable to 
humanity, not simply believing certain things and 
sitting with folded arms. 

Carrying the cross is not very hard to begin with, 
and it becomes easier as it becomes a habit. The 
power of habit is a great thing; some men smoke, 
some drink, some chew tobacco, some curse, some ex- 
aggerate, because of habit. 

In the biography of General Sheridan, we are told 
that a battle occurred near a canal where a num- 
ber of his old worn-out horses were confined ; during 
the heavy firing they grew warlike, and forming into 
squadrons charged upon a number of mules and 
killed two, while the others fled. They next charged 
upon and overthrew a high rail fence, and didn't 
stop their wild demonstration until the firing ceased. 
Charging the enemy had become a habit with them, 
it ought to be so with us. 

Christ didn't come to establish peace between 
heaven and hell, God and Satan, the Christian and 
the Infidel. The carrying of the cross means at all 
times to follow Christ. What would He do? then, I 
will do the same. A young man gave his testimony 
for Christ, and was told by an old worldly-wise man 
that he ought to be ashamed. To which he responded, 
' ' I am, but God forbid that I should ever be ashamed 
of Jesus." 

Have we repented of sin? 

Remember, just one sin kept the young ruler out 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 39 

of the kingdom and probably ruined his soul. Go- 
ing half-way won't satisfy divine justice, Judas did 
that. 

Are we bearing the cross? It will mean ridicule, 
but it is worth while. 

-,. , 

"Were the whole realm of nature mine, 
That were a present far too small ; 
Love so amazing, so divine, 

Demands my life, my soul, my all. ,, 



WHAT MANNER OF MAN IS THIS? 

Matthew 8:27 

What manner of man is this, that even the 

winds and the sea obey him? 

We are not told in this chapter where Christ was 
going, but we may be sure that He was on a mission 
of mercy. He came to heal the broken-hearted, to 
preach deliverance to the captives, to restore sight 
to the blind ; and who will say that He didn 't pursue 
His mission with untiring energy? When His Father 
and Mother sought and found Him in the temple His 
question was, "Wist ye not that I must be about 
my Father's business?" 

I am reminded of a little boy who was playing in 
front of his home, when a man came up to him and 
said, "Where is your father?" The boy said, "I 
don't know, but I guess you 11 find him where there 
are sick and suffering ones." So Christ healed the 
sick and cleansed the lepers and cast out devils, and 
was always ready to lay a healing hand on a fevered 
brow, and all this He did without money and with- 
out price. 

Winston Churchill, the British Member of Parlia- 
ment, when cautioned against over- work, said, "The 

40 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 41 

Ciuirchills don't live long, and I mean to make the 
most of my life." It is not necessary that a per- 
son live long in order to do a great work. John the 
Baptist completed his work in thirty years; Murry 
McCheyne completed his mission in twenty-nine 
years; D. L. Moody was not an old man when he 
heard the voice of God saying: "Come up higher.' ' 
These men simply did with their might during their 
short lives what their hands found to do, and as a 
result the world was blessed and the Bible statement 
verified: "The righteous shall be held in everlasting 
remembrance. " 

Christ's disciples followed Him into the ship, but 
they had not gone far when a storm arose and threat- 
ened their lives. A more terrified bunch of folks 
never gathered around their leader than the followers 
of Christ that night. Listen to them as they come to 
ITim with, in substance, the pathetic question: 

"Carest thou not that we perish? 
How canst thou lie asleep? 
When each moment so madly is threatening 
A grave in the angry deep?" 

Immediately their fear is turned to surprise when 
the storm dropped dead at the sound of His voice; 
\'o\\ Looking into the wind, Ee said: "Peace;" and 
down to the waves He said: "Be still" — and there 
was a great calm. The enemies of the church arc 
very much like that big wind: They go howling 

around and try to frighten all on hoard the old ship 



42 EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 

of Zion, but with Christ on the captain's bridge we 
are eternally safe. 

"When the storms of life are raging 
Tempests wild o'er sea and land, 
I will seek a place of refuge 
In the hollow of God's hand/' 

No wonder they said, "What manner of man is 
this?" 

1st. He w^as a God-called man. "For God sent 
not His Son into the world to condemn the world, 
but that the world, through Him, might be saved.' ' 
4 ' This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 
Hear ye Him." 

God calls into His service very imperfect material, 
and uses it for His glory and man's welfare. For 
instance, Abraham not only lied, but succeeded in 
getting his wife to stand by him in his lying. Moses 
was far from being a perfect man, yet God made him 
a blessing to Israel. David, the sweet singer of the 
Old Testament, committed one of the blackest crimes 
in the catalogue of sins. Peter denied his Lord with 
cursing and swearing before the crucifixion ; but 
when endued with the Holy Spirit on the day of 
Pentecost he led three thousand souls into the King- 
dom of God. 

And, my friends, you and I may be God-called, 
for it always pleases Him to take the weak things 
and the foolish things and use them to the confound- 
ing of the so-called wise and great. Christ was per- 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 43 

feet material, however, for He was God and man 
combined. And believe me, when God and man are 
combined today, something worth w T hile will be done. 

2nd. He was a fearless man. 

When, in the synagogue, he read the Scripture 
relative to Himself; He knew before doing so that 
they w 7 ould cast Him out, yet He went and did it; 
was not that a demonstration of fearlessness? Have 
you ever thought of the courage He displayed when 
He made a scourge of cords and drove from the 
house of God those described as being buyers and 
sellers? 

How much better it would be for the church mili- 
tant if all those who are honored with leadership in 
her ranks were noted for fearlessness in propagating 
righteousness, regardless of the cost. Some one has 
beautifully said, "He died with His face to the 
enemy, and not a w 7 ound in His back." 

1 i Hath he marks to lead me to Him 
If He be my guide? 
In His feet and hands are wound-prints, 
And His side. ' ' 

3rd. He was a tender-hearted man. 
When dealing with important matters relative to 
His kingdom, the mothers crowded Him with their 

children, and the disciples wanted to drive them 

away; but Christ said, "Suffer the little children 

to come unto Me, and forbid them not, for of such 
is the kingdom of heaven." 



44 EVANGELISTIC SEBMONETTES 

When on the cross He was reviled by the thieves 
who were crucified with Him, but when one of them 
besought Him for mercy, how quickly His tender- 
heartedness was seen, for He said, ' ' Today shalt thou 
be with Me in paradise." 

Now, this man, Christ Jesus, is still alive and al- 
ways the same. He willeth not the eternal death 
of any, but with open arms He invites the whole 
world to gather around His table and enjoy the gos- 
pel feast, which alone can satisfy the hungry soul. 
Have you received the call from God to go forth and 
preach His gospel? If so, thank Him for the high 
honor which is yours. Are you absolutely fearless 
in drawing the attention of men to their sinful condi- 
tion and their need of a Saviour? If so, praise the 
Spirit for giving unto you heavenly grit. Are you 
tender-hearted in dealing with bruised souls? If so, 
thank God for that Christ-likeness. 

"To the work, to the work; 
We are servants of God; 
Let us follow the path 
That our Master has trod." 



THE GREAT COMMISSION 

Matthew 28:19 

Go ye therefore and make disciples 

of all nations. 

This was the command of Christ to His early disci- 
ples, after His resurrection and before His ascension. 
It is His command today to all who are seeking to 
follow in His footsteps. 

A disciple is a learner or follower ; and in order to 
be a follower in the truest sense we must know the 
one whom we would follow. There are at least three 
ways of knowing a person : First, by personal con- 
tact ; second, by the testimony of reputable people ; 
third, by reading what the individual has to say. 

Now we cannot know Christ by personal contact 
in the physical sense, but we can and do know Him 
by the other methods mentioned. We believe that 
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter and Paul were 
reputable people; men whose word was beyond dis- 
pute, and whose testimony has stood the test of time, 
and the most severe criticism. And in Christ's Ser- 
mon on the Mount and in His message to Nicodemus 

and Others, We get to know a great deal about the 
Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. 

45 



46 EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 

Now, if we would win others to the cause of Christ, 
we must be in touch with Him ourselves. I think I 
hear Him say in the previous verse, "All power is 
given unto Me in heaven and in earth, go ye there- 
fore/' It is the disciple plus the power of Christ 
that wins in the conflict with the world, and the flesh, 
and the devil. Lifting Christ up before the world 
keeps us in close contact with Him, and in that atti- 
tude we are always successful. Christ is a magnet of 
the greatest possible power, "And I, if I be lifted up, 
will draw all men unto Me." There are some things 
about a magnet which are interesting to know, and 
which if spiritualized may become beneficial to the 
truth-seeker. In the first place a magnet will draw 
nails to it when it will not move gold or silver. And 
is it not true that Christ draws the sinner but leaves 
the self-righteous alone? This is clearly proven in 
the case of the Pharisee and the Publican who went 
up to the temple to pray. The scribes and Pharisees 
were denounced in scathing terms while the thief 
on the cross had an abundant entrance into Para- 
dise. In the second place, a nail which is drawn 
by a magnet has a power imparted to it which en- 
ables it to draw other nails toward the source of 
its power. So we find the woman of Samaria going 
into the village and saying to the people, "Come see 
a man that told me all things that ever I did, is not 
this the Christ?" and we are told that the whole 
village went out to see Jesus and many persons be- 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 47 

lieved in Him because of the saying of the woman, 
"He told me all things that ever I did." This is 
also very clearly illustrated by Philip who went to 
Nathaniel and said unto him, "We have found him 
of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write, 
Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Joseph." Nathaniel 
said, "Can there any good things come out of Naza- 
reth?" Philip simply said, "Come and see," and 
Nathaniel began to move toward Jesus who was the 
source of Philip's power. In the third place a mag- 
net will draw nails or the like out of slime, but it 
will not draw the slime; and Christ will draw the 
sinner, but his sins must be dropped. 

When the woman taken in adultery was left stand- 
ing alone in the presence of Jesus, he said, "Who 
hath condemned you?" She said, "No man, Lord"; 
then, in tender tones, he said: "Neither do I con- 
demn you," but with firmness in speech he added, 
"Go, and sin no more." 

In the fourth place a nail used by a magnet in 
drawing other things of like quality should not boast, 
lor the power belongs to the magnet. 

Isaiah used to boast a bit and evidently stood quite 
high in his own estimation, but one day he arrived at 
the place where he could truthfully say, "In the 
year when King Ussiah died, I saw the Lord high 
and lifted up and His t rain filled the temple. Then 
said I. Woe is me for 1 am undone; for I am a man 
of andean lips and 1 dwell in the midst of a people of 



48 EVANGELISTIC SEKMONETTES 

unclean lips, for mine eyes have seen the King, the 
Lord of hosts." 

Job was the kind of a man who, I think, never 
sought the back seat in the synagogue, or in any 
place where men met. But one day Job's eyes were 
opened as never before, and from his lips fell this 
statement, "I have heard of Thee by the hearing of 
the ear, but not mine eyes seeth Thee, wherefore I 
abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes." 

Moses, too, with stately tread, walked over to the 
rock, saying, ' ' Shall we bring water from the rock ? ' ' 
You see Moses had risen so in the estimation of 
himself that he robbed God of the honor which was 
His due. Well might the poet write — 

"What could Moses ' rod have done, 
Had he not been divinely sent, 
The power was from the Lord alone, 
And Moses but the instrument. ' ' 

I like the spirit which Paul manifested when he 
said, "God forbid that I should glory save in the 
cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." 

And I think John Bowring must have been medi- 
tating on that scripture when he wrote the beautiful 
hymn beginning with — 

"In the cross of Christ I glory, 

Tow 'ring o'er the wrecks of time, 
All the light of sacred story, 

Gathers 'round its head sublime. 7 ' 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 49 

Now the best way to make disciples is by coming in 
contact with Christ, who is the greatest magnet in the 
universe, and then using the power which He imparts 
to us in drawing sinners like ourselves to the source 
of that power. 

May the power imparted to us never be broken by 
sin, for if that happens our efforts will be useless. 



WINNING SOULS 

Proverbs 11 : 30 
He that winneth souls is wise. 

If I were to ask you what in your estimation is the 
most important thing in life, I am of the opinion that 
I should receive many answers. Some would say, to 
get rich is the most important thing in life, and to 
that answer I should have to say: "But we have 
a story in the twelfth chapter of Luke, of a man who 
became rich and his riches didn't prove to be of 
any importance, for God said, ' Thou fool. ' ' ? 

Others would say to get fame and honor is the most 
important thing in life. And to that answer I should 
have to draw attention to Lord Clive of England, the 
great conqueror of India. He certainly won fame 
and honor, and the promises of life were green with 
hope for him. But he was poor in the midst of wealth 
and wretched despite his fame, for he died a suicide. 

Then others would say, culture is the most impor- 
tant thing in life. And to that statement I should 
have to speak of Lord Byron, for there never was 
a greater literary success than he, and there never 
was a life so unsatisfactory, for, dipping his pen in 
the anguish of a broken heart, he wrote of himself 
on his last birthday: 

50 



EVANGELISTIC SEKMONETTES 51 

"My days are in the yellow leaf, 

The flowers and fruits of love are gone; 
The worm, the canker, and the grief 
Are mine alone. 



' ' The fire that in my bosom plays 

Is lone as some volcanic isle; 
No torch is kindled at its blaze, 
A funeral pile. M 



Still others would say the most important thing in 
lit'*' is pleasure. To this statement I should have to 
say: "The most popular man of mirth that ever 
lived, so far as we can learn, was Theodore Hook. 
But one day at a dinner everyone was struck with 
his ghastly paleness. And, turning around to a mir- 
ror, he said of himself: "Ah, I see how it is. I look 
just as I am — done up in mind, in body and in purse. " 
When lie reached home he went to bed, and a friend 
calling on him found him there. "Here you see me," 
said the great wit, "all my buckling and padding 
dropped forever, and 1 a gray-headed old man." He 
• lied a little later in despair. 

Now, in my estimation, tin 1 most importanl thing in 
life is to win souls. How may this be done.' 

First, by prayer. 

The effectual, fervenl prayer of a truly righteous 

man availeth mneh. But there is a vast difference 
between praying and saying one's prayers. Some pod 

has well said : 



52 EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 

"I often say my prayers, 

But do I ever pray? 
And do the wishes of my heart 

Go with the words I say? 
I might as well kneel down 

And worship gods of stone 
As offer to the living God 

A prayer of words alone, 
For words without the heart 

The Lord will never hear; 
Nor will he to those lips attend 

Whose prayers are not sincere. yi 

An old lady on one occasion saw that passage of 
scripture, "If your faith is as large as a grain of 
mustard seed and you pray for this mountain to be 
removed and cast into the sea, it shall obey you." 
She decided to test her faith, and one night when 
about to go to bed she looked through the window 
and saw a mountain in the distance. She then 
dropped on her knees and asked God to remove it 
during the night. When she awoke the next morning 
she looked, and there stood the mountain as it did 
when she prayed. And what do you suppose she 
said ? "I just thought so. " Do we not oftentimes ask 
God for things, and at the same time deep down in 
our hearts we feel that he won't grant them? 

Friends, let us rely on God's promise regarding 
prayer for the unconverted and the backslider, and 
we shall win. 

Second, by testimony. 

I always link prayer and testimony together, for 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 53 

I believe that they should go hand in hand in the 
service of soul winning. 

It has pleased God, through the foolishness of 
preaching to save souls, the Bible asserts. And what 
is preaching but bearing testimony to the saving and 
helping power of Christ? Luke says, "If thou wilt 
confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe 
in thine heart that God hath raised him from the 
dead, thou shalt be saved." Christ himself said, "He 
that is ashamed to confess Me before men, him will I 
also he ashamed to confess before My father and be- 
fore the holy angels." 

A simple word of personal testimony has often done 
more good than a well prepared sermon. A young 
man who.se acquaintance I made years ago stood at 
an open air meeting one evening and listened to the 
testimony of a convert. It produced conviction of sin 
and led to his conversion, and today he is a success 
minister in the Baptist church. A young man i;i 
.Minnesota when converted decided to raise the family 
altar that very night. His wife had invited company 
for supper and requested him to wail until they had 
gone. When she saw that he was benl upon having 

family worship while they were all present, she urged 
him— as it was Ins firsl attempt along thai line — to 
have it in the kitchen with the servants. lie replied 
that when ('hrist had honored him by coming ini<> 
his hearl and home, thai instead of taking Him into 
the kitchen he would give Him the parlor. Thai uighl 



54 EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 

they had family worship together, guests included, in 
the parlor. And the young man, who was deter- 
mined to honor his Lord so in the presence of guests 
who had apparently no interest in religion, became a 
mighty soul winner throughout his state. 

Oh, friends ! the greatest work in the world is soul 
winning, and the wisest men are engaged in it. 
Are you? 



BLIND MEN 

John 9 : 25 
Whereas I was blind. 

This was the testimony of a man who was born 
blind, but whose sight was restored through Christ. 
It is also the testimony of all who know Christ by 
personal experience. Some of the greatest men the 
world has ever known have been men who discovered 
before it was too late that they were blind and in 
order to be successful must receive sight. David 
prayed, "Open Thou mine eyes so that I may behold 
wondrous things in Thy law." Luther was blind re- 
garding God's simple plan of salvation. He thought 
that salvation was to be secured by works, but when 
in the act of doing penance the Holy Spirit opened 
his eyes and he saw that salvation is of grace. "For 
by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not 
of yourselves it is the gift of God." 

An eminenl scientist was asked on one occasion 
whal was the greatest discovery that he had ever 
made, and he responded: "The greatest discovery 
I ever made was that 1 was blind and needed sight." 

I wish to speak of some things to which we are, 
as a rule, Mind, and hope thai if necessary our eyes 
may be opened. We are blind as a rule. 



56 EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 

First. To our own ignorance. How often do we 
hear people talking about where they completed their 
education. I always pity such, for it only shows their 
ignorance ; there is no such thing as completing one ? s 
education. We are always learning, and sad, indeed, 
is the case of the man who cannot learn something 
from the most ignorant. I stopped at the street cor- 
ner a few nights ago to listen to a few illiterate 
colored folks trying to preach; and, although every 
law of grammar was snapped in their effort, I 
got a thought from one, that has been a blessing 
to me. 

I haven't much time for the average place of 
amusement, and for a good many years I shunned 
organizations gotten up for the sole purpose of amus- 
ing people and taking their hard-earned money. But 
one day I went to one, and as I sat there looking at 
my attractive surroundings I thought of the dilapi- 
dated condition of many churches, and I said: "It 
is a downright shame that we who profess to love 
God permit the world to get ahead of us in cleanli- 
ness and attractiveness." I came away from that 
place with a determination to be the sworn foe of 
dilapidated places in which people are supposed to 
assemble to meet God. So I consider that I got a 
blessing in that place, the amusement of which I was 
opposed to. 

The business man takes a trip, and when he returns 
he sees many things that ought to be done, changes 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 57 

in fixtures and in help. Woe to the man or woman 
who think they know it all. 

Second. To our opportunity. We are often blind 
to the opportunities for doing good which lie all 
around us. We are nearly all short-sighted, and it 
always has been so. Paul could only say, "As soon 
as I shall see how it shall go with me." The man 
who owned the ground which holds the Mount Morgan 
mines sold it for five dollars an acre and thought 
he was getting a good price, inasmuch as he had 
gotten it for nothing but just taking care of it. Since 
that time millions of dollars in dividends have been 
paid by the company which bought it. Morgan could 
not see his opportunity ; if he had, he might have be- 
come a wealthy man. 

How may we see our opportunity? By using the 
eyes which have been opened. The strongest men 
physically are those who exercise their bodies most. 
The strongest men spiritually are those who exercise 
their God-given power. Those who discover mines 
in God's w r ord are those who use their eyes in look- 
ing for them. A man with weak eyes told me that 
after he began to play baseball his Bight improved 
xery niueh. lie had to use his eyes and in so doing 
they became strong. 

Some people think that Opportunities never come 
their way; such is a delusion of the devil. Oppor 

t unities cross the pathway of every man every day. 

Third. To our possibilities. A^ individuals and Bfl 



58 EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 

a church our possibilities are great. "And it doth 
not yet appear what we shall be." "When Christ 
was living in Nazareth the people never thought, I 
am sure, that He would be heard of around the 
world. They never thought that that hand made 
hard from the use of the saw should wave the scepter 
of authority, and that upon that brow from which 
they had so often seem Him wipe the sweat of toil 
there should rest a crown of unparalleled splendor 
and universal dominion. Who among the fishermen 
of Galilee ever thought that Peter would become 
the famous preacher that he was? 

In passing stone quarries we are often led to won- 
der what use can ever be made of that rock, but a 
little later we pass a beautiful church building and 
admire its beauty and learn that that building was 
made from the ugly pieces of rock we saw a short 
time before. So it is with man; we conclude that 
some will never amount to much, and later we get 
the surprise of our lives by learning that they have 
accomplished something of great importance to man- 
kind. 

James Y. Simpson, Professor Morse, Cyrus W. 
Field and Thomas Edison at one time were little 
babes, but they grew to be men of renown and of 
great worth in the march of civilization. 

The language of my text is in the past tense. May 
God enable us to say truthfully, "Now I can see." 



THE NEW MAN 

Eph. 4: 24 
And that ye put on the new man, which after God 
is created in righteousness and true holiness. 

In this age we hear a good deal about the new 
woman, as to how she has risen and asserted her rights, 
what she has done already for the benefit of the race, 
and what she hopes to do in the future. It is my 
purpose in this little sermon to speak of the new 
man, what he has done and what we have every reason 
to believe he will do in the future. In doing so 
it will be necessary to draw your attention to some 
things which distinguish the new man in Christ Jesus 
from the old man in sin. 

First. Holiness of life. 

The Bible asserts that without holiness shall no man 
sec the Lord. Dr. Guthrie in a very eloquent and 
forceful manner says: "Let no man say that lie 
cannot live a holy life, for sin never wove on hottest 
hell-fire and the devil never forged a chain so strong 
that the spirit of God wielding the hammer of his 
word cannol strike from fettered limbs." 

Environment, as some people suppose, has not 
uiiieh to do with retarding a person's growth in 

grace, and in the knowledge of the truth as it is in 

59 



60 EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 

Jesus. Dr. McLeod tells us that "Climate and soil 
do not account for everything. ' ' The palm tree grows 
on the edge of the desert with leaf clean and green. 
The Edelweiss, with its dense clusters, flowers on the 
summit of the Alps. The Traveller's Joy blooms on 
the highest peak of Teneriffe. The Samphire grows 
in the cleft of the rock far above the reach of the sea. 
In Wyoming the hot spring flows hard by the snow- 
drift. 

Sodom had its Lot ; Egypt had its Joseph ; Babylon 
had its Daniel, and in the antediluvian chapter of the 
early twilight bracketed with men, whose biography 
alone is that they lived and died, is found a man who 
walked with God. Enoch lived three hundred and 
sixty-five years, and yet his is the briefest biography 
ever written. Forester 's Life of Dickens covers three 
volumes. Washington Irving 's life by his nephew 
covers four volumes. Mason takes six folios to com- 
plete the tragedy of Milton's career. Lord Macaulay 
fills eight duodecimos on sixteen years of England's 
history, but here a single line is all : ' ' Enoch walked 
with God." 

Walking with God is holiness of life, and what 
Enoch did in his day by the grace of God, we can 
do in our day. 

Second. Fearlessness in testimony is a distinguish- 
ing mark of the new man. 

The great commission of the early disciples, found 
in Matthew 28:19, is the commission of regenerate 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 61 

men in all ages. In doing this work, let us never 
forget the comforting words of Jesus: "Fear not 
them that kill the body and after that can do no 
more, but rather fear him who is able to destroy both 
soul and body in hell." 

On the first day of April in the city of Baltimore 
a good many years ago a farmer went to one of 
the banks and drew five hundred dollars. On his 
way to the station he lost his pocketbook. Retracing 
his steps, he soon came upon a crowd standing on 
the sidewalk. His pocketbook was the center of at- 
traction, but no one dared to lift it lest he be accused 
of being an "April-fool/' The farmer pushed his 
way through the crowd and lifted his book and began 
counting the twenty-dollar bills. Their shouting soon 
came to an end, when they saw all those " green- 
backs/' and how foolish they must have felt. Are 
we not often kept from bearing testimony to the 
saving and keeping power of Jesus by just such a 
small thing as "what the people would say?" 

Third. Earnestness of purpose is also a distin- 
guishing mark of the new man. I have often thought 
if we could find out the first public testimony of great 
missionaries, and also the closing remarks of their 
fruitful careers, that it would certainly make inter- 
esting reading. Take Paul, for instance, who began 
his ministry with "I am not ashamed of the gospel 
of Christ," and who closed it with * V I have fought 

a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept 



62 EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 

the faith ; henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown 
of life which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall place 
upon my head." It is almost impossible for me to 
think of Paul in action without the poetic lines coming 
to my mind : 

"Preach as if you ne'er might preach again, 
And as a dying man to dying men." 

Captain Cook never went to school until he was 
fourteen years old, but he became an educated man 
and one of the best and greatest navigators that 
ever spread his sails to the breeze and crossed the 
stormy sea. 

Why did Paul win so many battles in the arena 
of Christian conflict? It was because of his tremen- 
dous earnestness. He talked with the Lord one day 
on the road to Damascus, and that was enough. Why 
did Cook master the difficulties that stood between him 
and such accomplishments ? It was because he meant 
to be somebody, and he kept moving in the right 
direction. 

Do we possess those marks ? 

First: Holiness of life? 

Second: Fearlessness in testimony? 

Third: Earnestness of purpose? 

If not, why not? 



SAVING OTHERS 

Matthew 27: 42 
He Saved Others. 

If a prince in passing by an execution were to take 
the chains of the malefactor and suffer in his place 
that deed would be recorded in every newspaper of 
note in the country, and well deserved would be all 
the words of praise and sonnets of admiration that 
would record and eulogize it. Jesus Christ has done 
that and far more for sinful man, and yet it meets 
with small approval, is heralded only by the few 
and, by the majority is looked upon as being an idle 
tale, a pious legend, a venerable fable, an unpractical 
myth. 

The Scribes and the Pharisees have always been 
the enemy of Jesus. From that, day in the synagogue 
at Nazareth when He read "The Spirit of the Lord is 
upon Me," until the day on Calvary when Be said, 
c 'Jt is finished," they continuously sought to trap 
Him. 

When the disciples had Forsaken Him, they were 
found close to the cross, shouting, "He saved others. 
Himself He cannot save." They soughl to injure 
His cause by sarcastic remarks, but instead their 
statement has been a great blessing to countless thou- 

03 



64 EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 

sands. For men and women everywhere under con- 
viction of sin, reading this testimony, have been led 
to believe that if He saved others He could save them, 
and they have given Him a trial and can truth- 
fully say — 

"On Christ the solid rock, I stand, 
All other ground is sinking sand. M 

First. He saved others from disease. 

We are told that a leper came to Him and said, 
"Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean," 
and the Greatest Physician the world ever saw put 
forth His hand and said, "I will, be thou clean." 
That was all that was necessary — no prescription to 
pay for, and no disagreeable medicine to drink. "And 
immediately his leprosy left him. ' ' On another occa- 
sion a woman who was afflicted with an awful malady, 
and who had spent all that she had on physicians, 
without the desired result, came behind Him and 
touched the hem of His garment, for she had faith 
to believe that if she even touched His garment that 
her disease would be healed. Here we find faith in 
action, she believed, and she touched, and Christ 
made her whole. 

Now sin is the disease of the soul, and it is incurable 
so far as man's power goes, but Christ who sent 
the leper home rejoicing and gave new life to the 
woman, can, in the twinkle of an eye, cure the dis- 
ease of the soul. And there are thousands in the 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 65 

world today and millions in glory who would gladly 
bear testimony to the truthfulness of that statement. 

Second. He saved others from death. 

Death is the most ancient and inveterate enemy of 
man. When our first parents sinned, he entered the 
world and ever since has reigned with unrelenting 
severity. Nothing can satisfy his appetite or change 
his will, for he devours thousands for his daily meal. 
He listens to no proposals, nor will he accept of entic- 
ing terms in compromise, but cuts down all without 
distinction. The most impoverished and the most af- 
fluent, the greatest enemies and the most attached 
friends have had to say — 

"Nay, but I yield, I yield, 
I can hold out no more, 
I sink beneath thine awful stroke, 
And own thee conqueror." 

One day outside the city of Jerusalem Christ met a 
young man who was being carried to the cemetery, 
and touching the bier on which he lay, He said, 
" Young man, I say unto thee, arise/' and the sacred 
writer says that he who was dead sat up and began 
to speak. Then we find Him by the graveside of 
Lazarus whom lie loved. La/anis lias been dead four 

days, bu1 thai does not. matter, for the one who after- 
wards robbed death of its sting is by his side and 
something is going to happen. The tears trickle 
down the clean face of Jesus, and, stooping, Ee cried 



66 EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 

with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth," and Laz- 
arus obeyed. What He did for these men in the 
physical sense, He can do for the individual or the 
church in the spiritual sense. 

At one time Frederick Douglas was addressing a 
large crowd of colored people and his address was far 
from being an encouragement. He said, ' ' The White 
Man is against us, the spirit of the age is against us, 
I see no hope for the Colored Race." A cloud as 
black as the color of his audience seemed to be set- 
tling over them, when an old colored woman stood 
up and said, "Frederick, God is still alive." So, I 
wish to say that Christ who saved from the power 
of death, is still alive. 

Third. He saved others from a useless life to a life 
productive of good works. 

Passing by the receipt of custom he said to Mat- 
thew, "Follow Me," and we are told that he arose 
and followed him. One day when passing the Sea 
of Galilee, he saw Peter casting his net, for he was 
a fisherman; and he said unto him, "Follow Me and I 
will make you a fisher of men. ' ' Peter followed Him, 
and Christ was as good as His word. 

The same commanding voice that Matthew and Pe- 
ter heard so long ago is being heard by men and 
women every day. 

Not long ago a man by the name of Roberts, a 
graduate of Oxford, who mumbled Latin phrases when 
drunk, got converted at the Bowery Mission in New 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 67 

York City. Through drink he had become an awful 
character, but it was just as easy for Christ to regen- 
erate him as the most moral man in the world. Today 
he is the honored editor of a religious newspaper. 
Are you living a useless or a useful life? If useful, 
thank God for the power He has given you, but if 
useless, make Christ king of your life and it will 
be crowned with success. 



WHAT SHALL I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL 

LIFE? 

Luke 10: 25 
What shall I do to inherit eternal life? 

This is one of the most important questions that 
ever fell from the lips of man. No matter how long 
we live, when death draws near he is not a welcome 
visitor. A short time ago a man said to me, " Isn't 
it too bad that when we are just getting acquainted 
with this beautiful world that we must die and leave 
it ? ' ' It is remarkable how far man will go and what 
he will do in order to have good health and length 
of days. Every day hundreds of people are on their 
way to Hot Springs, Ark., or to Colorado Springs, or 
some other famous health resorts in this and other 
countries, seeking recuperation, and it is pitiable to 
see many of them come back to die when medical 
aid has failed. 

"And must this body die; 
This mortal frame decay, 
And must these active limbs of mine, 
Lie mouldering in the clay?" 

Methuselah lived to be 969 years old, but he died. 

Adam lived to be 930 years old, but he also died. 

Enos lived to be 905 years old, but he too had to go 

the way of all flesh. This body will decay, but within 

its walls there is a soul which may live forever, and 

68 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 69 

its existence in happiness depends upon what we do 
with Christ. The lawyer didn't say, what shall I 
do to inherit riches, or what shall I do to enjoy this 
present life, but, "What shall I do to inherit eternal 
life ? " If this is your question, my answer is — 

First. You must be born again. 

I cannot explain the new birth, but I know that it 
must and can be accomplished. Years ago men said 
that an ocean steamer could never be built capable of 
carrying hundreds of passengers from Liverpool to 
New York, but just when they were satisfied that 
their judgment was correct, the ocean steamer was 
constructed and now we have only to visit New York 
to see giant liners arrive with thousands of passen- 
gers brought safely across the Atlantic. 

Not a great many years ago men contended that 
water couldn't be made to rise higher than its source, 
but today water is sent hundreds of feet higher than 
its source. And while we cannot understand how 
confessing sin and believing on Jesus can make a new 
creature, yet, it is possible. Despite the fact that we 
have sinned and come short of the Glory of God, 
yet, praise His name, we may become new creatures 
and mount up to more than our original felicity. 

Augustine of Northern Africa, well educated and 
having a praying mother, became one of the worst 
young men thai ever breathed his native air. Bui 
one day the spirit of God spoke to him and he listened 
to the advise, was convicted of sin and converted 



70 EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 

to a life of righteousness ; and Augustine became one 
of the best saints that ever lived, and one of the 
greatest preachers that ever proclaimed the gospel of 
Christ. You see he became a new creature. 

We are told that it was impossible for any one 
to sink lower than John Newton, who not only de- 
lighted in sinning himself, but sought to ruin every 
young man he came in contact with. But Newton 
became a new man through the grace of God, and he 
who sank so low in vice, rose so high in holiness of 
life that the average Christian of today would require 
a spiritual telescope in order to see him. His beauti- 
ful hymns have been sung around the world, and 
there are many souls in heaven who were brought 
out of the mire of sin and started on the road to 
purity through his messages as a preacher. 

What God did for Augustine and Newton He has 
done and will do for all who come unto Him through 
Christ the Door. 

Second. Your faith must be productive of good 
works. 

It is hardly necessary for me to make that state- 
ment, for the works of a regenerate man will be good 
and numerous, unless he becomes a spiritual invalid. 

A tree is known by the fruit it bears, and a Chris- 
tian is known by his life, not by his profession. 

In doing good, let us not despise what may seem 
to be insignificant opportunities. It is ours to plant 
and to water, it is God's to give the increase. 



EVANGELISTIC SEKMONETTES 71 

Dr. Lyman Beecher, on one occasion, preached to 
the magnificent congregation of one man. Doubtless 
he thought that nothing would ever come of that 
service in so far as far-reaching results were con- 
cerned. But twenty years later a stranger went to 
him at the close of a service and asked him if he 
remembered that large congregation that he addressed 
so many years before. Beecher remembered the occa- 
sion and was agreeably surprised when the man said, 
"I was your congregation, and your words that night 
started me on the road to heaven. I am now and 
have been for years a minister of the gospel." Christ 
when on earth gave up almost a whole afternoon to 
showing the way of life or explaining the New Birth 
to a woman, but His effort was not in vain, for 
through her a whole Samaritan village was led into 
the kingdom of God. 

After William Carey had labored as a missionary 
in India for many years, with seemingly no results, 
one day he baptized Chrisna Pall, and through that 
one man brought from Heathenism to Christianity a 
whole tribe, for Chrisna Pall was their leader, and 
tiny followed his example. May we not despise the 
day of small things, nor lament too much lost op- 
portunities. 

"They do me wrong who say I come no more, 

When once I knock and fail to find you in; 
FOI every day I stand outside the door, 

And bid yOU wake and rise to fight and win. n 



HE BROUGHT HIM TO JESUS 

John 1:42 
And he brought him to Jesus. 

Napoleon said on one occasion, "I know men, but 
Christ was no mere man. ' ' Ingersoll said, ' ■ If Christ 
were here today, I would be His friend. ' ' The officers 
who were sent to arrest Jesus by the Pharisees came 
back without Him, and their excuse for doing so was 
" Never man spake like this man." Pilate, the Ro- 
man Governor, who questioned Christ regarding the 
accusations which the Jews had made concerning 
Him, said, "I find no fault in Him." The centurion 
and they who were with him watching Jesus die, 
said, " Truly this man was the son of God." Now, 
this was the one in whom Andrew became interested 
when John the Baptist said, "Behold the lamb of 
God that taketh away the sin of the world." And 
this is the one to whom he brought his own brother 
Simon. 

The interest which Andrew showed in Christ is the 
kind exemplified by every true disciple today, and the 
attitude of Andrew toward his brother should be the 
attitude of every believer in God's simple plan of 
redemption. 

There are at least two methods by which we can 

72 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 73 

bring our brothers and sisters to Christ, our only 
Saviour : 

First. By testimony. "If thou wilt confess with 
thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thine heart 
that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt 
be saved." Andrew talked to Simon in such an 
enthusiastic manner as to compel him to come and see 
the Christ. Philip found Nathaniel and said unto 
him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the 
law and the prophets did write Jesus of Nazareth 
the son of Joseph ' ' ; and so convincing was his testi- 
mony that Nathaniel rose and followed him to Jesus. 

Testimony for Christ ought to become a business 
with the believer, for, after all, the greatest work 
in which one can be engaged is the work of bringing 
others to Christ. "When the leper was cleansed I 
am sure that he never grew tired in his praise of the 
one who healed him, and when the sinner realizes that 
he has been saved from sin and its awful consequences, 
speaking of such a blessing is always a pleasure for 
him. 

When the woman of Samaria concluded that the 
one who talked with her at the well was the Messiah, 
she went into the city and said, "Come see a man 
who told me all things that ever I did; is not this the 
Christ?" And of those who went to see Him we are 
told that many believed on Him because of the saying 
of the woman, he "told me all things that ever 
I did." 



74 EVANGELISTIC SEKMONETTES 

After making the statement, "Whosoever shall call 
upon the name of the Lord shall be saved," Paul 
asks the question, "How then shall they call on Him 
in whom they have not believed? and how shall they 
believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and 
how shall they hear without a preacher?" And 
Christ said to His disciples, "Go ye into all the world 
and preach." Do we not hear Him say to us, "Go 
ye into all the world and bear testimony to My saving 
and comforting power?" 

Some one has imagined Jesus talking with an angel 
after He went back to heaven, and in the course of 
their conversation the angel asked Him what plan 
He had devised for the purpose of carrying the news 
of salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth. 
Christ said, ' ' I called around Me twelve disciples and 
taught them and then sent them forth to teach 
others." "But," said the angel, "what if that plan 
should fail?" "If that plan fails," said Christ, "I 
have no other. ' ' But friends, that plan will not fail, 
for the disciples bore testimony, and those who heard 
them and believed, bore testimony; and so on down 
the centuries. May we follow their grand example, 

and 

"Salvation's story repeat o'er and o'er, 
Till none can say of the children of men: 
Nobody ever told me before." 

Second. By life. The command of Christ to His 
disciples when on earth is His command to every 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 75 

believer in this enlightened twentieth century, "Let 
your light so shine before men that they may see 
your good works and glorify your Father who is in 
heaven." Awhile ago when I addressed a meeting 
in a tabernacle in Chicago we had a testimony meet- 
ing. One after another told how the Lord had saved 
and kept them from the power of sin. I shall never 
forget how one old man finished his remarks by 
saying: "If you don't believe what I say regard- 
ing the change that Christ can make in one's life, 
ask my wife — she lives with me." Of course every- 
body smiled, and his wife arose and corroborated his 
story. Folks may talk just as much as they wish to 
regarding the blessings they have received from the 
Gospel, but if those who live with them don't see 
a change in their life they would do more good to 
keep quiet. While on the other hand a stirring testi- 
mony, backed up by a clean, honest, God-fearing life, 
is a tremendous power for good. While pastor of 
a church in Missouri some years ago, a lady who was 
going to unite with that church on a certain Sunday 
asked me to urge her husband to come into fellowship 
on the same day. I did so, but he said, "No, I won't 
come on that day, but if I see any change for good 
in my wife's life I will come the next time you 
receive new members." ITe never joined while I was 
pastor of that church. She may have been to blame, 
;ind she may not have been tO blame. I don't know, 
but I do know this: that a good example is a mighty 



76 EVANGELISTIC SEBMONETTES 

power for good. May the desire expressed in the 

little hymn composed by Washington Gladden be 

ours: 

O Master, let me walk with Thee 
In lowly paths of service free; 
Tell me Thy secret, help me hear 
The strain of toil, the fret of care. 

Help me the slow of heart to move 
By some clear, winning word of love; 
Teach me the wayward feet to stay 
And guide them in the homeward way. 

Teach me Thy patience; still with Thee 
In closer, dearer company, 
In work that keeps faith sweet and strong, 
In love that triumphs over wrong. 

In hope that sends a shining ray 
Ear down the future's broadening way, 
In peace that only Thou canst give; 
With thee, O Master, let me live. 

Do you want to bring your brothers and sisters 
to Christ? Then tell them what a dear Saviour He 
is; and may your life resemble His in being filled 
with good works. 



TEMPERANCE, PATIENCE, GODLINESS 

2nd Peter 1 : 6 
Add to knowledge temperance, 
And to temperance patience, 
And to patience godliness. 

The advice of Peter to the early church is the 
word of God to us today. If we are to accomplish 
the work which under God we are capable of doing in 
this community, then we must be temperate, patient 
and godly. 

I wish for a little while to speak on those three 
Christian virtues. 

First : Temperance. 

"Webster says that temperance in the first place is 
moderation, and, in the second place, abstinence from 
intoxicating liquor. There are some real good people 
everywhere who have more zeal than knowledge. Such 
people often do a great deal of harm, if put into a 
position where their influence is likely to be much 
felt 

Paul had an experience with a certain class whom 
he characterized as having an abundance of zeal, but 
devoid of knowledge. I am of the opinion that he 
had this particular class in mind when he advised 

Timothy to study to show himself approved unto God, 

77 



78 EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 

A great effort is put forth today to exterminate 
the saloon; some folks may say that too much zeal 
is being exerted, but I don't think so, for that zeal is 
backed with the knowledge that the saloon has been 
and still is the foe of the church, the ruin of the home, 
and the destruction of the nation. 

An old farmer who had in silence listened to a 
lawyer's clever exposition of prohibitory law, shut his 
jackknife with a snap, and said: "I may not under- 
stand everything you lawyers say, but I have got 
seven good reasons for voting for prohibition.' ' 
"What are your seven reasons?" asked the lawyer. 
The wise old farmer responded, "Four sons and three 
daughters. ' ' 

One of the best movements along temperance lines 
today, I think, is the " Catch-My-Pal' ' move started 
in 1909 in Ireland by the Eev. Robert Patterson. He 
began with a lamp-post group of six men, pledging 
them to total abstinence and having them promise to 
get others to do the same thing. The six became 
thirty-one in three weeks, and over six hundred in 
five weeks, and in one year a hundred and forty thou- 
sand men were engaged in pledging others, and in 
planning counter attractions against the saloon. 

Jack London has published an interesting book, the 
title of which is "John Barleycorn." It is a pathetic 
story of personal experience and a strong plea for 
total abstinence. It is an advice to fathers and 
mothers to prevent their children forming a taste for 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 79 

liquor in any form. He himself was only a boy of five 
when his taste for liquor began, and he calls himself 
at sixteen a seasoned drinker. 

There is no use of a father, before going to his 
work, praying for the safety of his children if he goes 
away without putting the lid on the cistern. And 
there is no use in us praying for prohibition if, when 
election day comes, we fail to go to the ballot box 
and do our duty. 

Second: Patience. 

Patience is the power of waiting for expected re- 
sults with a calm and restful spirit. Patience is nec- 
essary to the accomplishment of anything worth 
while. 

Paul realized that it is necessary in Christian work 
when he said, "And let us run with patience the race 
that is set before us." 

One of the most remarkable achievements of pa- 
tience on record is connected with Noah Webster. 
He spent thirty-six years in the dry study of words 
and their meaning. But how grand this sturdy old 
virtue appears when his dictionary is completed. 
Coining close behind Webster is George Bancroft, who 
spent twenty-six years in writing the history of 
America. But at the end of that time his work was 
applauded and he was pronounced the greatest his- 
torian of his time. 

The most distinguished violinist that ever came 

from Europe was staying in a hotel at Boston. The 



80 EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 

people who occupied the room next to him were dis- 
turbed with his much practice. One of them said 
to him, "I should think that the most distinguished 
violinist in the world could get along with less prac- 
tice. " The artist replied, "I hold my audience spell- 
bound because I practice so much. Six hours of close 
practice a day enables me to charm my listeners. ' ' 

May God bless all of us with patience. 

Third : Godliness. 

"We often underestimate the power of a good exam- 
ple, and yet there are many men at the head of af- 
fairs in both the temporal and spiritual world, who 
were encouraged to try for those places because of a 
good example. I think that Peter had this in mind 
when he used the words of my text to the early 
church. 

Profession without possession is harmful in any 
sense, but profession and possession, in so far as 
Christ is concerned, go hand in hand along the road 
to success. 

Robert E. Lee realized the importance of a good ex- 
ample when he decided not to call at a saloon one morn- 
ing, because he saw his little boy coming after him. 

Successful businessmen are aware that the appear- 
ance of their employees has to do with the success 
of their business. A merchant said to an applicant 
for a position, "You look seedy, and no business man 
wants seedy-looking people about him; they don't 
make a good advertisement for his house." 



EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 81 

A prominent merchant in New York, in the course 
of an address on how to attain success, said : ' ' Clothes 
don't make the man, but good clothes have gotten 
many a man a good job. If you have twenty-five dol- 
lars and want a job, it is better to spend twenty 
dollars for a suit of clothes, four dollars for shoes, 
the rest for a shave, a hair-cut and a clean collar, 
and walk to the place, than to go with the money in 
the pockets of a dingy suit. 

Godliness ought to be the life of every professing 
Christian, and the world looks for it, and if it does 
not appear, then our profession is no good. In other 
words, Godliness is the Christian's new suit; let us 
keep it clean and attractive. 

"Let your light so shine before men that they may 
see your good works and glorify your Father who is 
in heaven.' ' 



FORGETTING THE PAST AND EMBRACING 
THE FUTURE 

Philippians 3: 13 
Forgetting those things which are behind, 
And reaching forth unto those things which are before. 

There were some things in the life of Paul which 
he wanted to forget, and among them, I presume, 
was his attitude while Stephen was being stoned to 
death for preaching Christ, and Him crucified. 

Another thing he wanted to forget, I suppose, was 
his mission to Damascus, when he met Christ. 

I feel sure that Paul blushed as he thought of 
those two experiences, but how often do we hear 
folks in testimony meetings talk of their dirty past 
in a manner which creates the impression that they 
are proud of such. Now, when God forgives our past, 
He forgets it, and that ought to be our aim, too. 

I wish to draw attention at this time to two things 
we as Christians ought to forget, and also to two 
things we should strive for. 

First : We should forget all about our past failures. 
If we brood over past failures, it will have a tendency 
to weaken our chance of success in the future. This 
is true in almost every sphere in which we move, and 
hundreds of illustrations could be easily gotten prov- 

82 



EVANGELISTIC SEKMONETTES 83 

ing the truth of that statement. When Sir Thomas 
Lipton began in business for himself, he failed. A 
few years later he started again and failed; but 
instead of brooding over his failures, he became more 
determined to win, and long ago he was knighted by 
Queen Victoria because of his success. 

A Scotch detective told me that half the police 
force in one of their large cities was made up of 
young doctors and lawyers who had failed in their 
final exams, and who did not care to make another 
attempt. 

When John B. Gough began to live the Christian 
life, he failed, but he was not defeated, for very 
soon, through his efforts saloons were thinned, drunk- 
ards were not so numerous, and he was spoken of to 
the uttermost parts of the earth as the greatest tem- 
perance exponent in the world. If we have failed, 
let us not be like the young professional man, not 
have the courage to try again, but in the name of our 
risen Christ may we prove that we possess the quality 
that made Lipton the successful business man and 
Gough the mighty temperance advocate. 

Second: We should forget worldly applause. It 
is fickle at its best and dries up like the morning dew. 
The world that shouts its approval of you today 
may damn yon tomorrow. 

When in St. Louis some years ago i was acquainted 
with the champion batter of the American League of 

that year, and I used to go Once in a while to see him 



84 EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 

in action. He was the idol of the club. If he made 
a good hit he was applauded, but if he made a small 
blunder, he was unmercifully denounced. As I sat 
there and listened, I said to myself, worldly applause 
after all is not long-lived and is worth very little. 

"When Daniel Webster made his famous speech, in 
a few hours he was pronounced the greatest orator 
on the American platform, but a few years later he 
was denounced as an office-seeker, and the broken 
heart of the great man was laid in the grave at Marsh- 
field, because of unkind criticism. 

May we pay no attention to worldly applause, but 
have in mind the Master's words, "Woe unto you if 
the world loves you." Now, we, as Christians, in 
the first place should strive for power ; in fact, with- 
out this we can be of little use in the service of 
Christ or any other kind. 

The disciples were to wait in Jerusalem until en- 
dowed with power. They did so, and when it came 
they accomplished much. Dr. Gordon suggests that 
a good question to put to applicants for church mem- 
bership is this one, "Do you wish to be a member 
with or without power? If they say without power, 
tell them you have too many of that kind and you 
don't need any more." 

Doing our work well today will arm us with power 
for future emergencies. 

Aaron Burr had a perplexing case to handle one 
time, so complicated was it that he sought the assist- 



EVANGELISTIC SERMOXETTES 85 

ance of Daniel Webster. No sooner did he state the 
case than Webster showed him how to handle it in 
order to win. Burr was greatly surprised at Web- 
ster's ability to handle such a difficult matter with 
such apparent ease. But the real secret of Webster's 
ability on that case lay in the fact, that a short time 
before he had studied out that very problem; so I 
say, if we pay attention to today we shall be ready 
for the problems of life as they rise tomorrow. May 
our prayer be — 

"Send the power, send the power, 
Send the power just now, 
Just now send the power, 
Send the power just now." 

In the second place we should strive for the com- 
mendation of Christ. The military man is proud 
when commended by the commander-in-chief. Christ 
is our Commander-in-Chief and his word of praise 
will be glory for me. 

A man said to me on one occasion: "Mr. Boyd, 
which would you prefer to enjoy, life as you go along, 
or to save every penny and deny yourself the com- 
forts of life, so that you might be properly cared 
for in old age?" I said, "I don't want to be extrava- 
gant now, but I am not going to forego the comforts 
of life now, that I might be cared for in old age." 
But the beauty of the Christian life lies in the Eac1 
that we have the promise of the life that now is and 

in the world to come life everlasting. 



86 EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 

I read a while ago of two men who rose early and 
climbed a high mountain, to see the sun rise. As it 
rose, one took off his hat, and facing the east said, 
"Glories of the past, I salute you." The other took 
off his hat and facing the west said, "Glories of the 
future, I salute you." The latter had the mind of 
Paul; may we, as Christians, come into possession 
of the same. 



PETER AND JOHN AT THE TEMPLE 

Acts 3 : 1 
Peter and John went up together into the temple 
at the hour of prayer. 

At the beginning of this little sermon I think that 
it would be well for ns to get as close to Peter and 
John as possible, and look them over carefully. 

In looking at Peter we are led to think of his call 
from being a fisherman to be an Apostle, of his 
fall from close fellowship with Jesus to that of de- 
nying him with oaths, of his repentance, which is 
seen in the bitter tears which he shed when Christ 
looked at him. I think that Peter could well have 
said: 

"He looked on me, O look of love, 
My heart by it was broken, 
And with that look of love He gave 
The Holy Spirit's token." 

And when the Day of Pentecost arrived we see the 
power of Peter in preaching the greatest sermon as 
a soul winner that has ever been delivered. Having 
looked at Peter fairly closely, let us now turn to 
John, and we find that he too was called from the 
humble occupation of fisherman to be a catcher of 
men. John was not so bold as Peter, but he was very 
ambitious as will be soon in his desire to have a high 

87 



88 EVANGELISTIC SEEMOJSTETTES 

place in Christ's kingdom. The faithfulness of John 
is quite noticeable, for when the other disciples had 
forsaken Christ John was found at the foot of the 
cross. 

Christ looked at Peter when he denied him, but 
what a contrast there must have been between that 
look and the one he gave John when looking down 
from the cross he saw that lone disciple, and said: 
"Son, behold thy mother." 

Now in the text we are told that these two great 
men were on their way to the temple at the hour 
of prayer. It was just following Pentecost and what 
a glorious time they must have had talking about 
heavenly things. 

First. These men went to the temple to pray. 
Some beautiful verse has been written on this health- 
ful Christian exercise. For instance — 

"Prayer highest soars when she most prostrate lies, 
And when she supplicates she storms the skies; 
Thus, the way to heaven is an easy task, 
For what can be more easy than to ask; 
Yet, oft with sad experience we find, 
That clogged with earth, some prayers are left behind, 
And some blow off with every wind; 
To kneel is easy, to pronounce not hard, 
Then why are some debarred? 

Hear what an ancient oracle has said: 

"Some sing their prayers, 

And some their prayers do say, 
But he an Elias is, 
Who knows how his prayers to pray. ' ' 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES S9 

The disciples had been taught to pray at their 
own request. You remember how they came to Jesus 
and said : "Lord, teach us to pray as John also taught 
his disciples." Their prayers were to be short and 
to the point, "use not vain repetitions," etc., and they 
were told that the most effective prayer is the one 
which is offered in one's own room. "But thou, 
when thou prayest enter into thy closet, and when 
thou hast shut the door, pray to thy father which is 
in secret, and thy father who sees in secret shall 
reward thee openly." 

Two men went up to the temple to pray, one was a 
Pharisee, the other a Publican. The Pharisee prayed 
with himself but the Publican prayed to God, and 
what a difference we see in them as they leave the 
temple. I fear that many persons who pray resemble 
the Pharisee more than the Publican, in attitude 
towards God and in results. 

"I often say my prayers, but do I ever pray? 
And do the wishes of my heart go with the words I say? 
I might as well kneel down and worship gods of stone, 
As offer to the Living God a prayer of words alone; 
For words without the heart, the Lord will never hear, 
Nor will he to those lips attend, whose prayers are not 
sincere. ' ' 

Second. They went to pray because they believed 
in prayer. 

They did not go to prayer meeting simply because 
of custom, but because of the promise, "Where two 



90 EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 

or three are gathered together in my name, there 
am I in the midst to bless." 

God hears and answers prayer ; they knew that, and 
that was why they prayed. They had put God to 
the test and were satisfied. Paul and Silas prayed 
and sang praises in the dungeon at Philippi, and 
what a marvelous work was done in that unlikely 
place. When Peter was in prison the disciples con- 
tinued in prayer for his release, and before their 
prayers were ended Peter was liberated. Hezekiah 
prayed for length of life, and the Lord added to 
his days fifteen years. And 

"Were half the breath that's vainly spent, 
To heaven in supplication sent, 
Our grateful songs would oftener be, 
Hear what the Lord has done for me." 

Third. They performed a miracle. 

I have often noticed that men and women who 
pray, believing in prayer, are often enabled to do 
things that are worth while. The praying man is 
always a working man. " Faith without works is 
dead." 

These men found an opportunity for service at the 
door of the very temple in which they worshipped. 
I fear that oftentimes we look too far away for oppor- 
tunities for Christian work. Let us remember that 
here in enlightened America — 

"We don't have to cross the ocean, 
And the heathen lands explore; 
We can find the heathen nearer, 
i We can find them at the door." 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 91 

Just look at the miracle. A crippled man was 
sitting at the gate asking for help. Peter said "Silver 
and gold have I none, but such as I have give I 
unto thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth 
rise up and walk, and he, leaping up, stood and 
walked and entered with them into the temple, walk- 
ing and leaping and praising God." 

He was thankful for the great blessing God had 
bestowed upon him and he paid no attention to 
dignity. 

May we never forgot to go to the house of God 
to pray, believing in prayer, and I feel certain that 
around the door we shall find some one who needs 
our help. 



DAVID'S CONFESSION 

Ps. 119: 59 
I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy 
testimonies. 

Testimony has been one method used by the Holy 
Spirit in saving men and women from wicked and 
shameful lives, and the wages that such bring. Often 
when an arousing sermon fails to convict of sin and 
lead to Christ, a simple testimony has done the work. 
In the Acts of the Apostles we read, "If thou wilt 
confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in 
thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, 
thou shalt be saved." 

I have in mind a young Baptist minister in the East 
on whom many a fine sermon had no effect, but the 
simple testimony of an illiterate man was the means 
of his conversion. 

Moses said, "We are journeying to the place of 
which the Lord said, I will give it you; come thou 
with us, and we will do thee good." David said, 
"The Lord hath done great things for us whereof 
we are glad." And again, "This poor man cried 
and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his 
troubles." He also adds, "I waited for the Lord and 
he inclined unto me and heard my cry." Now he 

92 



EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 93 

says, "I thought upon my ways and turned my feet 
into thy testimonies." 

The text speaks to us about three very important 
things: Man wandering; man thinking; man coming 
back to God. 

First. Man wandering. 

When man disobeyed God he was driven from the 
fair bowers of Eden out among the thorns and net- 
tles of a sin-cursed world; and there he wandered. 
When Jacob robbed his brother and deceived his fa- 
ther, he became a wanderer on the face of the earth, 
with a conscience ill at ease, and remained in that 
condition for twenty years. When the prodigal son 
got dissatisfied with his father's house, he gathered 
his possessions together and started on a long journey 
to a far-off land. There he wandered and squandered 
until he became a pitiable sight, ragged and hungry 
and deserted, on whose brow might well have been 
stamped, "Thou fool." 

The natural man has not improved along this line ; 
he is still wandering. When he stepped out of Eden, 
his back was toward God, and that is his attitude 
today. That is the reason we are always confronted 
with ruined homes and blasted lives and well filled 
jails and penitentiaries — man is wandering away 
from God. 

Second. Man thinking. 

A few weeks ago I talked with a young man about 
becoming a Christian; and was very much surprised 



94 EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 

when he said, "Please don't bother me with such 
subjects." He cared more for the fleeting things of 
time than he did for the stable things of eternity. 
I am glad that all men do not resemble him in this 
respect, for some of the greatest thinkers the world 
has known devoted their renowned powers to the 
propagation of the solution of every problem with 
which the world is beset — the Gospel of Christ. 

Aroused man is the greatest thinker that the world 
has today, and when he thinks seriously something 
happens. Years ago, when limbs were being ampu- 
tated suffering was intense, but James Y. Simpson 
began to think and very soon gave to the world the 
anesthetical properties of chloroform. Not so very 
far back in the years the countries could not com- 
municate with each other except by letter or mes- 
senger; but Cyrus W. Field began to think, and the 
Atlantic cable was laid. Not a great while ago travel 
was very slow and tedious, but George Stevenson 
began to think, and now we have trains running a 
mile a minute, carrying hundreds of passengers. 
"When a sail vessel was the best on which a person 
could cross the ocean, six weeks were spent in cov- 
ering the distance between Liverpool and Philadel- 
phia, but Robert Fulton began to think, and now we 
can cross the Atlantic in six days in floating palaces. 
When man begins to think, he is going to do some- 
thing, whether it be good or bad. Judas thought, and 
he betrayed Christ for thirty pieces of silver. Liv- 



EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 95 

ingston thought, and as a result Africans heard the 
gospel. 

Third. Man coming back home. Homesickness is 
an awful experience. The German proverb says, "If 
homesick, go home." Some year ago when the Eng- 
lish army was fighting, a Scotch regiment went to 
help them. But the Scotchmen began to die in great 
numbers, and the doctors didn't know what was the 
cause. At last the reason was discovered. The 
Scotch pipers were playing the tune which reminded 
them of the heather-clad hills and the men were be- 
ing killed by homesickness. 

Is there a homesick wanderer out in the land of sin 
today? Then God invites you back home by way of 
the cross, and if you come there will be joy in heaven 
and in your own heart. 

Burns was right when he said : 

"When ranting round in pleasure's ring, 

Keligion may be blinded; 
Or if she gie a random sting, 

It may be little minded; 
But when on life we're tempest driven, 

A conscience but a canker, 
A correspondence fixed with heaven 

Is sure a noble anchor.' ' 

It is true that Jacob wandered, but it is equally 
true that he returned and made restitution as Ear 
as possible and became an honored Israelite. It is 
also true that the prodigal wandered far and squan- 
dered all his possessions, but there eanie a time in 



96 EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 

his life when he said, "I will arise and go to my 
Father/' and he went, and the Father freely for- 
gave him. 

"Beturn, O wanderer, to thy home, 
>Tis madness to delay; 
There is no pardon in the tomb, 
And brief is mercy's day." 



FAITH, VIRTUE, KNOWLEDGE 

2nd Peter 1 : 5 
Add to your faith, virtue, 
And to your virtue, knowledge. 

Faith in God, belief in virtue, and a striving after 
substantial knowledge, ought to characterize and does 
characterize every Christian man and woman. 

First. Faith. 

Paul says, " Faith is the substance of things hoped 
for, the evidence of things not seen." Faith is 
credence of a statement, reliance on a promise, trust 
in engagements. Faith in God enabled Moses to 
bring from under the tyrannical power of Pharoah 
3,000,000 Israelites. Faith in God enabled Gideon, 
with 300 men, to put to flight 32,000 Philistines. It 
is necessary that we have faith in God in order to 
win in the battle against sin, and it is necessary that 
we have faith in ourselves, in order to win in the bat- 
tle of life. The one who has lost faith in himself is 
in a bad condition, regardless of how much money 
he may possess, or how many friends lie may have, 
and the man who hasn't lost faith in himself, re- 
gardless of how poverty or adverse circumstances 
may have struck him, has a good chance to win. 

97 



98 EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 

When I was in Minnesota ten years ago, I met a 
man who, ten years before that time, was only earn- 
ing fifty dollars a month, teaching school. He was 
always tampering with real estate and very often 
losing, because of the smallness of his capital. The 
storekeepers would not let him have anything on 
credit ; nevertheless, he kept his head above the water 
by having faith in his ability and ultimate success. 
When I met him he was worth one million and a 
quarter, and the storekeepers who had no faith in 
him in the days of his struggle, were tripping each 
other to shake his hand. 

When Billy Sunday began to preach he did not get 
much of a hearing, nor were his efforts very success- 
ful. But Billy had faith in God, in the old-fashioned 
religion, and in himself, and today there is a greater 
demand for his services, despite severe criticism, than 
for the services of any other evangelist. 

A few days ago I read an account of a man, who, 
during the Spanish- American War, was rendered al- 
most penniless, and his friends gave him up as being 
down and out. But he never lost faith in his ability, 
but kept watching for an opportunity, and it came; 
for since the European war began he has made $500,- 
000. 

I cite these illustrations for the purpose of inspir- 
ing you to a successful culmination of your desire, 
and may your greatest wish be for the glory of God 
and the betterment of man. 



EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 99 

Second. Virtue. 

Virtue is moral excellence — practice of duty. The 
virtuous person discerning his duty will perform it 
at all costs. 

Paul and Peter (and, in fact, all the Apostles) 
laid down their lives for the Christian cause, believ- 
ing it to be their duty. They knew the Lord and the 
power of His gospel and the world's need of it, hence 
their self-sacrifice. 

Elizabeth Fry felt that she was called of God to 
work in the prisons of England for the redemption 
of criminals, and she did. 

Florence Nightingale felt that she ought to be on 
the battlefield during the Crimean war, helping the 
wounded, and she went, and her services were a bless- 
ing to the crippled, and an example of self-abne- 
gation. 

Jane Addams of Chicago, and Maud Ballington 
Booth of New York, are good examples of duty per- 
formers; and since the present war started thousands 
of fine young ladies have given their services to help 
the wounded, and thousands of fine young men have 
laid down their lives in defense of their countries, 
believing it to be their duty. 

When Blucher, whose timely arrival at Waterloo 
prevented Napoleon employing his reserves on Wel- 
lington's troops, had been toiling for days across 
spongy valleys toward the scene of conflict, his men 
wanted to lie down, but Blucher said, "I have given 



100 EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 

Wellington my word, and you won't make me break 
it." 

When we accepted Christ as our Saviour we gave 
Him our word that unto death we would be faithful ; 
may that word never be broken, and if it has, may 
we not be discouraged but begin over again. 

Third. Knowledge. 

Knowledge is clear perception, enlightenment. It 
will be impossible for our faith in God to become 
strong or our sense of duty to Him be clear, if our 
mind is not enlightened regarding His demands and 
His promises. The man who, as a rule, gets to the 
top in every line, is the man who knows, for knowl- 
edge is a power which cannot be hidden; the suc- 
cessful doctor is one who makes a study of every- 
thing he finds in the medical world. The successful 
lawyer is the one whose mind is alert on everything 
in connection with his calling. And the successful 
Christian is the one who knows most about the book 
which speaks of the redemption of man through the 
love of God and by the sacrifice of Christ. May no 
one turn away from the Bible, saying, "It is not a 
book of learning." If interested in astronomy the 
Bible speaks of the "Sun of Righteousness" and the 
"Star of Bethlehem." If interested in botany the 
Word of God tells about the "Lily of the Valley," 
the "Rose of Sharon" and the " Plant of Renown." 
If interested in geology, within the covers of this, 
the grandest book that was ever written, you may 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 101 

learn something of the "Kock of Ages" and the 
" White Stone" with the name engraven thereon. If 
interested in history, you can here read of the origin 
of the world, the creation and progress of man, and 
the rise and fall of nations. May all who read this 
little sermon have an increase of faith in God, a 
keener sense of duty, and a greater desire for that 
knowledge which is as lasting as the hills. 



WITHOUT A WEDDING GARMENT 

Matthew 22: 11 
And when the king came in he saw there a man 
who had not on a wedding garment. 

In this chapter we are told of a wealthy man who 
made a feast and invited many to it. A great many 
responded and enjoyed the repast, but one man came 
and entered who paid no attention to the rules of the 
house. It was the custom in those days and in the 
far East for those who were invited to marriage feasts 
to wear wedding garments. This particular man, 
however, entered and sat down at the table without 
one. The king came in to see his guests, and finding 
one without the wedding garment, he said, " Friend, 
how earnest thou in hither not having on the wed- 
ding garment ? ' ? and we are told that he was speech- 
less. Then, said the king, " Catch him, and bind 
him, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be 
wailing and gnashing of teeth." I have been won- 
dering why he didn't comply with the rules of the 
house when he accepted the invitation and attended 
the supper, and I have concluded that it must have 
been carelessness, indolence, or hatred, that stood in 
the way. At any rate, whatever was the reason for 

102 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 103 

such an attitude, it was not considered an excuse, 
for he was speechless and received his just punish- 
ment. Let us, for a few minutes, look at the rea- 
sons which I think might have led to such an insult 
to the king, and brought about such a punishment to 
the guilty. 

First. Carelessness. 

Carelessness has ruined thousands, while careful- 
ness has lifted an equal number from low estate to 
high position and influence. 

David Maydoke, the inventor of the modern ham- 
mer, made the first one for his own use, because he 
couldn't find one to suit him. He made it so well 
that a neighbor bought one and praised it to such an 
extent that the town merchant bought one, and he 
praised it so that a hardware company in New York 
gave him an order for all he could make. In a few 
years his fortune was made and all because of his 
carefulness in work and precision in finish. There 
is no room for carelessness in the business world, nor 
in the social world, and there should be no room for 
it in the kingdom of God. 

A professional man may have a diploma from the 
leading school in the country, and a servant may have 
the highest recommendation in written form from 
former employers, but they don't amount to anything 
if those who possess them do not make good in their 
vocation. 

May we give our best to God in service, that will 



104 EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 

prove our love for Him, and be the greatest blessing 
to man. 

Second. Indolence. 

The man without the wedding garment was per- 
haps so indolent that he didn't want to trouble him- 
self, except when it was absolutely necessary, and 
not even then, if he could avoid it. Indolence is 
found in all walks of life and will thrive on any 
soil. 

Coleridge was a man of brilliant intellect, but 
lazy, and if it hadn't been for that he might have 
been looked to as being the greatest scholar of his 
day. Eobert Nicoll wrote of him, "What a mighty 
intellect was lost in that man for want of a little 
energy and determination." Busy men have always 
been honored of God. "When Moses was called to be 
the leader of Israel and greatest statesman of his 
time, he was at work. When Gideon was called to 
service for God, through which his name has become 
a household word, he was at work on the threshing 
floor ; when Matthew was honored with a place among 
the first of Christ's disciples, he was at work as a 
Publican. When Peter and John were called to be 
fishers of men, they were mending their nets, and 
so on along the line, busy men have been honored of 
God. 

A Norwegian, who had visited all countries, was 
asked on his return if he could think of any trait 
in connection with humanity that might be looked 



EVANGELISTIC SEKMONETTES 105 

upon as being universal, and his answer was, "Me 
tink dat all men love lazy. ' ' May the reviving power 
of God 's spirit so move us that indolence may not find 
a foothold in our life. 

Third. Hatred. 

It may have been that somebody was at the feast 
whom he didn't like, and because of that, determined 
to be as disagreeable as possible. Hatred has been 
in this world since Cain killed Abel, and it will re- 
main as long as man inhabits this planet. We find 
it in every walk of life, from kings and czars down 
to rag-gatherers and chimney-sweeps. 

At a Baptist convention Dr. Broughton could 
hardly make himself shake hands with a colored 
man, his hatred of that race was so great ; but finally 
the grace of God enabled him to conquer that feeling, 
and he learned that God had made of one blood all 
nations of men. He shook hands with the colored 
brother, and there was joy in both hearts and in 
heaven too, over race hatred being defeated. Have 
you accepted the invitation to enter the kingdom of 
God ? If so, I hope that you have complied with the 
rules of the kingdom. If you have, enjoyment is 
yours now, and will be in the future, and you can 
sing: 

" There is no condemnation, 
There is no hell for me; 
The torments and the fire, 
Mine eyes shall never see. " 



106 EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 

If carelessness, indolence or hatred are in the king- 
dom of Christ today, may they be eliminated, and 
with every other sin buried in the depths of the sea ; 
and above every other note in sacred music may this 
one swell, "My Jesus hath done all things well." 



THE WATER OF LIFE 

Isaiah 55: 1 
Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, 
and he that hath no money, come. 

The world today is made up of thirsty men and 
women, and it is remarkable how far we will go and 
what we will do in order to gratify that desire. 

I wish to speak this evening of three or four kinds 
of thirst. 

First. Knowledge. 

This should be so, not only in connection with 
secular education, but also in connection with spir- 
itual attainments. 

Paul advises Timothy to study, and his own desire 
was, "Oh, that I might know Him and the power of 
His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffer- 
ing." 

Captain Cook never went to school a day until he 
was fourteen, but he became one of the best and 
greatest navigators that ever spread his sails to the 
breeze to cross the stormy sea. 

John Bunyan never went to school a day, but ho 
became the immortal dreamer, a Baptist minister of 
note and one of the best exponents of the English 
tongue. 

107 



108 EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 

John A. Johnson, of Minnesota, born in poverty 
and cradled in want, and denied in youth an educa- 
tion; over-topped every difficulty and became the be- 
loved governor of Minnesota. 

Abraham Lincoln, before whom the hat of every 
lover of liberty is doffed, began the battle of life 
with no mental equipment as far as the schools were 
concerned, but he became America's greatest presi- 
dent. 

"Why did these men succeed? The answer is sim- 
ple: They thirsted for real knowledge which, when 
acquired, was applied in such a way as commanded 
the respect of the people, and proved a blessing to 
mankind. 

May our thirst for knowledge not only be intensi- 
fied, but gratified, by getting the best. 

Second. Riches. 

I wonder how many of us really mean it when we 
sing that verse : 

"Lord, I care not for riches, 
Neither silver nor gold." 

At the age of thirty, John D. Rockefeller was a 
poor man, but at the age of sixty he stood among the 
wealthiest in the world. At the age of eleven An- 
drew Carnegie was working in a factory for a few 
dollars a month, but before he reached sixty he be- 
gan to distribute the biggest pile of gold that any one 
man ever possessed. 



EVANGELISTIC SEKMONETTES 109 

Why do men leave the sacred ties of home and 
early friendship and cross the sea to this country? 
Many of them do it in quest of gold. Why do many 
Americans leave comfortable homes and live on iso- 
lated claims for years in Arizona and New Mexico? 
It is because some day they expect those claims to 
make large returns and hoist them to the pinnacle of 
wealth. 

Oh, may we have a thirst for heaven's wealth, 
which is pardon for sin, peace of conscience, joy in 
the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverence 
in Christian work. 

Third. Pleasure. 

Why is it that the nickel shows are so well at- 
tended, the dance halls patronized, and the river 
steam-boats on Sunday packed? It is because of 
quest of pleasure. I enjoy pleasure as much as any- 
body, but I will venture the assertion that I get more 
pleasure out of a good arousing, soothing and satisfy- 
ing gospel meeting, than the worldly get out of any 
purely worldly entertainment. 

"I love thy kingdom, Lord, 
The house of thine abode; 
The church our blest Kedeemer saved 
With His own precious blood." 

Fourth. Spirituality. 

Why was it that three thousand souls were added 
to the church at Pentecost? Why was it thai re- 
cently thirty thousand people professed conversion in 



HO EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 

Philadelphia? It was because they had tried the 
cisterns of world pleasure and found that they lacked 
satisfaction. 

Why do we attend church, Sunday school and the 
mid-week service? I hope that it is because we are 
thirsting for the water of life, clear as crystal, pro- 
ceeding from the throne of God and the lamb. 

After one of the battles of the Civil War a chap- 
lain was coming down the Tennessee River with a 
company of wounded soldiers. It was in the spring- 
time and the water was muddy. One of the soldiers 
wanted a drink; the chaplain got it for him, but he 
drank only a little and handed back the glass, say- 
ing: "I wish I had a drink from my father's well." 
The muddy water of the Tennessee didn't satisfy the 
thirsty soldier. 

And friends, we may thirst for knowledge and 
riches and pleasure and get them, but they will be 
muddy compared with the "sparkling water of life." 

It will satisfy, and it is free ; nothing to pay. Come 
and drink. 



DO IT WITH THY MIGHT 

Ecclesiastes 9: 10 
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy 
might. 

This advice comes down to us from one of the most 
interesting men that ever lived — Solomon. When he 
became king, at an early age, he offered one of the 
most remarkable prayers ever uttered by an earthly 
ruler. In substance it was: "Give me grace and 
wisdom that I might be able to guide Thy people, 
and to lead them in Thy service unto victory. " His 
prayer was answered, and his wisdom excelled that 
of any monarch who preceded him; and I doubt if 
anyone since has had half as much real knowledge. 
His success was far-famed, and was due to his faith 
in God and the whole-souled way in which he en- 
tered into anything that commanded his attention. 
Though dead nearly three thousand years, his advice 
is worth remembering, meditating upon, and putting 
into action. 

The topic which is suggested from this statement 
is, "Duty;" and I want to show you that men who 
have made their mark in the world and in the church 
have been men who discovered their duty and did it, 
regardless of the cost. Nathan, the prophet, had a 

111 



112 EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 

disagreeable task to perform, that of drawing the at- 
tention of the king to his wickedness; but he did it, 
and ever since his bravery has been extolled. Amos, 
the prophet, found that it was necessary not only to 
rebuke the old church for her sinfulness, but also her 
leaders for hypocrisy. His was no easy task, and, in 
spite of the fact that persecution stared him in the 
face, Amos did his duty and won. 

John the Baptist might have saved his head if he 
had kept silent regarding the conduct of Herod, but 
he felt that duty comes first, and so he died at his 
post; and today he has a large place in the heart of 
every enthusiastic follower of the Son of God. 

It was duty that led David Brainard to preach to 
North American Indians the Gospel of Christ, de- 
spite the dangers connected with the undertaking; 
and that sent David Livingstone into darkest Africa, 
in which the foot of white man had never before 
trodden. The work of these men was greatly blessed 
wherever they went, and they shall be spoken of with 
pride by generations, yet unborn. 

Listen to Paul as he says: "I am not only ready 
to be bound, but to die at Jerusalem." This he 
said to weeping companions who besought him not 
to risk his life in that wicked city. Duty to Paul 
was paramount to all other things; it was second to 
nothing on earth. 

When Sidney, the immortal English patriot, was 
told that he could save his life by denying his own 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES H3 

handwriting, and thus tell a falsehood, he replied: 
"When God has brought me into a dilemma in which 
I must assert a lie or lose my life, He gives me a clear 
indication of my duty, which is to prefer death to 
falsehood." A higher sense of duty, or personal 
respect for it, is not found in any record. It hal- 
lows life by making death a secondary consideration. 

At the battle of Trafalgar, Nelson raised his voice 
and said, "England expects every man to do his 
duty. ' ' It was a terrific battle, and he was mortally 
wounded; but he won, and died saying: "Thank 
God, I have done my duty." 

Now, in connection with the average life, duty in 
three spheres demands our attention, and I am speak- 
ing now to Christians. 

First. Duty in the home. 

John Howard Payne was right when he said, 

"Mid pleasures and palaces, though we may roam, 
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home. n 

Fathers and mothers have opportunities for doing 
good in the home that cannot be found anywhere 
else. And if those opportunities are neglected it may 
be impossible to recover them. I have read of a 
father who went out into the meadows for a walk 
with his little son. After a while he sat down under 

a tree tO real and Cell last asleep. When he awoke 

he couldn't find Ids hoy. in desperation he shouted 



114 EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 

his name again and again, but there was no answer 
save the echo of his cry. Finally, running to a cliff 
in the distance, he looked over the edge, and there 
on a crag below, he saw the mangled form of his 
only son. From that hour until the day of his death 
the father could not be consoled, but blamed his care- 
lessness for the destruction of his boy. 

In the spiritual sense that very thing is happening 
in many homes today. Everywhere the pitfalls of 
sin are yawning to engulf the youth of our land; it 
is the duty of parents to warn their boys and girls 
of such places, and not leave that important task to 
pastors and Sunday school teachers. And fathers 
and mothers neglecting this, you may go to the grave 
with broken hearts, because of the spiritual catas- 
trophe of those entrusted to your care. 

Second. Duty in business. 

When I was a boy in the second reader, I remem- 
ber that a head-line in my copy-book was, " Honesty 
is the best policy. ' ' And if a man finds that he can- 
not be honest in his calling, whether he be employer 
or employee, the very best thing he can do is give 
up the business. Dr. Gray tells us of a young man 
in Chicago who left his position because he became 
convinced that he couldn't stay in it and be a Chris- 
tian. In a short time, however, he had gotten a bet- 
ter position in every sense, and step by step went up 
the ladder of success. And I am convinced that the 
man who gives up anything for righteousness sake 



EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES H5 

will receive something better from the hand of God 
in return. 

Third. Duty in the church. 

A young man was asked, on one occasion, what 
persuasion he belonged to, meaning denomination, 
and his answer was Paul's, or: "I am persuaded 
that he is able to keep that which I have committed 
unto him against that clay." 

He didn't belong to any particular denomination, 
but he loved the Lord and sought to serve him in 
sincerity and in truth. 

I am of the opinion, however, that it is well for 
us to belong to some particular denomination, in or- 
der to accomplish the most good in our short slay 
here. Therefore, it is ours to select the denomina- 
tion with which we feel we can serve God best and 
be a credit to that denomination. If it has any weak 
places, we should try to strengthen them, and with 
its principles we should be thoroughly acquainted. 

May we never forget that any fool can criticize, 
but that it takes a great soul to do things that are 
worth while. So, whether in home, or in business, 
or in the church, may we remember the injunction 
of the world's wisest man : 

"Whatsoever thy hand flndeth to do, do it with 
thy might. " 



ENDURING TO THE END 

Matthew 10 : 22 
But he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 
"Must I be carried to the skies, 
On flowery beds of ease, 
While others fought to win the prize, 
And sailed through bloody seas?" 

The text implies that the living of the Christian 
life, and the promulgating of the gospel of God's 
son will be no easy task. It means a fight with foes, 
seen and unseen, but if we demonstrate the bravery 
that Christ would have us possess, a sure reward will 
be ours. If we would be successful, there are at 
least two things we must endure. 

First. It will be necessary for us to bear unkind 
criticism. The Saviour saw trials in this direction 
ahead of His followers, and to encourage them He 
said, " Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and 
persecute you and say all manner of evil against you 
falsely for My sake." "Behold, I send you forth 
as sheep into the midst of wolves." "Beware of 
those who come to you in sheep's clothing, but who 
are inwardly as ravening wolves." "Fear not them 
that kill the body and after that can do no more, but 
rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and 
body in hell." 

116 



EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES H7 

Now, as Christ predicted, so it came to pass, for 
the disciples were scattered abroad, but to their 
honor wherever they went they preached the Word. 
But alas, when persecution arrives many of the 
church members of today throw up their hands in 
defeat. You will observe that I didn't say Chris- 
tians, but church members, for there is a vast differ- 
ence sometimes. Pliable Peter was a member of the 
church; one day this man boasted of his loyalty to 
Christ and the next day, in the company of the 
world, he denied Him with cursing and swearing. 
Judas was treasurer, and he got to like the money so 
well that he sold his Master for thirty pieces of silver, 
then haunted by an accusing conscience, he went and 
hanged himself, and his money was spent in buying 
a cemetery to bury strangers in. 

Ananias and Sapphira were church members too, 
but my! what liars they were, and what a terrible 
end they met. As long as the disciples of Christ 
keep quiet and close their eyes to the evils of the 
day, they will have smooth sailing; but, if, with open 
eyes, and raised head and emphatic gesture, and ring- 
ing testimony, they show up dirty tricks of cheap 
politicians, and every sinner, whether moral or de- 
graded, their sin persecution will at once begin and 
unkind criticism will be heard. 

A Chinese merchant was openly baptized during 
the Boxer uprising, as he wanted to have a share in 
suffering for the sake of Christ. 



118 EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 

Second. It will be imperative that we suffer self- 
abnegation, ' ' Though He was rich, yet, for our sakes, 
He became poor, that we thru His poverty might 
become rich." He was and still is the grand exam- 
ple. If a king or czar or emperor in this age were 
to come down from the throne and even mingle for 
a day with ordinary folks, the newspapers would be 
filled with words of praise for them; but think of 
Jesus, what He did, and how little the world makes 
of His self-sacrifice. 

Matthew, the rich Publican, gave up his lucrative 
position to follow Christ, and he will always be re- 
ferred to by the Church with pride. 

Mr. Moody gave up the shoe business, in which he 
might have become a millionaire, in order that he 
might pursue the calling of an evangelist, but look at 
the honored place God gave him. 

Billy Sunday, at his conversion, gave up a $4,000 
position as baseball player, to accept a $1,000 job in 
the Y. M. C. A., of Chicago ; but look at him today. 

A young man said, regarding his brother who was 
going to fever-stricken Africa, to preach to the na- 
tives, "Jim is a fool, giving his life for a few nig- 
gers; hell be dead in six months." He was the one- 
who died, and recent reports from Africa show that 
Jim is very much alive and the work he is doing is 
advancing the kingdom of God in that country and 
will evidently stamp his name in the history of 
Africa as being one of its greatest benefactors. Now, 



EVANGELISTIC SEBMONETTES 119 

ray text says, "He that endureth to the end shall be 
saved." It is natural for us to ask at this time, 
Saved from what and to what? My answer is: 

First. From sin. 

We will always be troubled with sin, but sin shall 
not have dominion over us. Peter was troubled with 
sin, but he arose victor in the name of Christ. David 
was troubled also, but by the power of God he won 
the fight. John B. Gough was knocked down into 
the gutter of sin, after his conversion, but he arose, 
and by the power of God made Satan and his king- 
dom tremble. 

Second. Saved to an inheritance incorruptible, 
undefiled and that fadeth not away. 

The promise which Christ made to His disciples 
was a promise for all of His disciples in all the ages : 
"I go to prepare a place for you, but if I go and 
prepare a place for you I will come again and receive 
you unto Myself/' Friends, He is coming again. 
Are you looking for Him? Are you suffering for 
His sake? Are you telling His good news to others . 



HOME COMING 

Malachi 3 : 7 
Return unto me. 

One of the saddest stories I have ever read, having 
a joyful ending, is that of a young girl, who ran away 
from home, got in with the wrong crowd and almost 
broke her mother's heart. 

The mother went to a city missionary and told the 
whole story to him, and then said, "Do you think 
that you can find my daughter for me?" He said, 
"I think so, but you will have to do what I tell you 
to do." She said, "I will do anything you want me 
to do in order to get her back." "Very well, then, 
I want you to go and get your picture taken, have 
it taken large size, and then write under each photo- 
graph the words, 'Come Home;' when this is done, 
bring me a hundred of them." She did so, and re- 
turned with the pictures. "Now," said he, "I want 
you to give me permission to have these put on the 
walls of saloons and worse places throughout this 
city." She said, "Hang them anywhere you want 
to. I want my daughter back again." The mission- 
ary placed the pictures in vile places, and one night 
a group of revelers entered one of those places and 

120 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 121 

among them was the girl; looking across the counter 
she saw the photograph that looked familiar. She 
walked around to see if she had made no mistake, 
and there, to her surprise was not only her 
mother's picture, but her mother's invitation, in 
her mother's handwriting. An invitation with 
only two words, "Come Home," but what a 
meaning. 

Everywhere in this little book the prophecy of 
Malachi, we see a picture not of God 's face alone, but 
of His heart too, and underneath is written to His 
wandering children "Return unto Me." But how 
may I return to Him? 

First. By repentance. 

"Let the wicked forsake his way and the unright- 
eous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the 
Lord and He will have mercy upon him and to our 
God, for He will abundantly pardon." 

An Irish Catholic lay near the gates of death, a 
Bible given him by a colporteur had been read, and 
the gospel, by its means, had reached his heart. The 
parish priest came to administer to him the last rites 
of the church. "Confess your sins to me," said the 
priest, and raising himself from the pillow, the dying 
man said, "Your Reverence, you are 1800 years loo 
late. Jesus Christ has, by His precious blood, put 
my sins away, and my soul is at peace." With bell 
and book the converted Catholic was excommuni- 
cated from the Roman Catholic Church the next Sun- 



122 EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 

day, but at the same hour his ransomed spirit went 
up to be with Christ. 
Second. By prayer. 

"Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, 
Uttered or unexpressed, 
The motion of a hidden fire, 
That trembles in the breast. ' ' 

Hitherto ye have asked nothing in particular, but 
everything in general; ask therefore, for something 
definite, and look for it and you will get it. 

David says, "I waited for the Lord, and He in- 
clined unto me and heard me cry." He again says, 
"This poor man cried and the Lord heard him and 
saved him from all his troubles." 

An old lady in Gloucestershire was approached by 
a scoffer one morning, who said, "I am hard up, I 
need five pounds. Do you think if I asked the Lord 
for that amount that He would grant it ? ' ' She very 
wisely answered, "You'll have to wait until you 
are better acquainted with Him." So with many 
of us I fear the reason our prayers are not answered 
is because our acquaintance with God is not very 
intimate. 

Third. By sacrifice. 

Everyone who returns to God has something to 
give up, but with most it is only a burden of sin. 

Bad companions of a fascinating type stand be- 
tween some and their coming back to God. They 



EVANGELISTIC SEEMOXETTES 123 

did so with Richard Weaver, but he had the grit to 

say, 

' ' My old companions, fare ye well, 
I will not go with you to hell, 
I mean with Jesus Christ to dwell. 
Let me go, let me go. " 

A man by the name of Pliable and another whose 
name was Worldly Wiseman, stood between John 
Bunyan and his coming back to God, but he, who be- 
gan the w r ork of grace in Bunyan 's heart, led him 
from the snare of Pliable and the Slough of Despond 
into the old homestead of heaven. 

It was riches that stood between the young ruler 
and coming home to God. Christ said, "Go and sell 
that which thou hast, and give to the poor, and come 
take up the cross and follow Me," but he went aw r ay 
sorrowful, for he was the owner of great possessions. 
Christ had no intention of making a pauper out of 
that youth, for He intended giving him ten-fold more 
in this life than he had, and in the world to come 
life everlasting. It was dancing that stood between 
a young woman and coming back home to God. She 
went to Dr. John Hall of New York, and said, "Dr. 
Hall, in order to become a Christian must I give up 
dancing?" Dr. Hall said, "If Christ wants you to, 
you must be prepared to do so." "Well, then," said 
she, "if I have to choose between coming home to 
God and dancing, I choose dancing and the other can 
go." 



124 EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 

How many here tonight are safely on the way 
home? How many are going to begin? 

Cl O, do not let this word depart, 

Nor close thine eyes against the light, 
Poor sinner, harden not thy heart, 

Thou wouldst be saved, why not to-night f " 

Come home to God. 



IS IT WELL WITH THEE? 

2nd Kings 4: 26 
Is it Well with Thee? 

This is the question which Elisha commanded his 
servant to ask the Shunammite spoken of in this 
chapter, and I believe that it is a suitable question 
for everyone at any time, but especially at the close 
of the year. It may be well with some of you socially, 
it may be well with some of you financially, it may 
be well with some of you vocationally, but is it well 
with you spiritually? You say, "I don't know;" 
well, let me ask you three questions: 

First. Are you saved from the power of sin ? 

Sin has been in the world ever since the forbidden 
fruit was eaten in Eden, and it will remain in the 
world as long as man lives and Satan is unchained. 
But it is possible for you to be saved from the power 
of sin, and that safety is brought about through mak- 
ing Christ your personal Saviour. Wesley was right 
when he wrote: 

"lie breaks the power of cancelled sin, 
And sets the prisoner free. ' ' 

If young men and women who today are bound 
by the fetters of sin and slaves to degrading habits 

would only give Christ a chance, those letters would 

125 



126 EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 

be snapped in the twinkling of an eye, and they 
would be made clean men and women. 

Years ago a young Scotchman from the Highlands 
of that country, landed in New York. Shortly after 
his arrival a Christian man went to him and asked him 
to be a Christian. He was met with a sneer. "Why/' 
said the young man, "I have a character as rugged 
as the country I came from; I don't need Christ." 
In New York his character began to slip, and in 
Chicago he made a complete wreck of himself. An- 
other friend went to visit him in the hospital in 
Chicago, but the doctor refused to allow him to en- 
ter the room where the young man lay. Said he, 
"You could no more touch him than you could a 
leper." "But I have come to pray with him," said 
the Christian man, and the hospital door swung 
open, and there, lying on a cot, was the young Scotch- 
man, his eyes could scarcely close, his tongue and 
lips could hardly articulate, and the joints of the 
body were beginning to separate. "My God!" said 
the visitor, "Isn't it awful?" "Don't touch him," 
said the doctor. "You must not touch him." The 
poor fellow turned his head on the pillow, and said, 
"Mr. Smith, if I prayed to God, do you think He 
would save me? Drop on your knees and pray for 
me." "When Mr. Smith prayed he tried to raise 
himself on his elbow, and said, "Tell the young men 
of the United States that sin is too mighty for them 
to resist." 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 127 

My friend, you need a Saviour from sin, and if 
you haven't one, it is not well with you. 

Second. Are you sanctified? 

I mean by this, have you found your place in 
Christ's kingdom, and are you using your talents 
for the furtherance of His cause and the welfare of 
man ? 

John A. Johnson, of Minnesota, was born in pov- 
erty, cradled in want and hemmed in by seemingly 
unsurmountable obstacles, but he found his place, 
and step by step walked up the ladder of fame and 
sat on the top of the highest pinnacle of his native 
state, for the people of that state thought enough 
of him to elect him by a large majority to the gov- 
ernorship. What John A. Johnson was enabled to 
do in the commercial and political world can be done 
in the spiritual world by the man who gives himself 
unreservedly to the service of Christ. Eeligious his- 
tory is glowing with accounts of the remarkable 
achievements of those who rose from low estate to 
high position and ecclesiastical fame. If you have 
not found your place in the realm of truth and purity 
and using your God-given talents there, you can not 
truthfully say, "It is well with me." 

Third. Are you happy? 

I do not mean spasmodically, but is there a con- 
tinuous springing well of joy rising in your soul. 1 
The man who knows what true happiness is, can 

truthfully sing, or at least say, 



128 EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 

"Oh, happy day that fixed my choice 
On Thee, my Saviour and my God, 
Well may this glowing heart rejoice 
And tell its raptures all abroad.* * 

Some folks think that an abundance of health is 
all that is necessary in order to secure happiness. 
This is a mistake, however, for nearly every day men 
and women of wealth are committing suicide. A 
short time ago a man, worth twenty millions of dol- 
lars, said to another, "All the money I have earned, 
and all there is in the bank to my credit, has never 
secured for me peace of mind." And where there 
is no peace of mind there can be no real happiness. 
Some people think that literary accomplishments will 
make them happy, but history and observation prove 
that these alone will not. 

Burns, who, to my way of thinking, was the great- 
est poet that ever lived, everything considered, re- 
veals the fact in many of his gems that he knew 
nothing about Christian happiness. For instance, 

' l Still thou art blest compared wi ? me ! 

The present only toucheth thee; 
But och! I backward cast my e'e 

On prospects drear! 
An' forward tho' I canna see, 

I guess and fear ! ' ' 

If it is well with you, you are saved from the power 
of sin, set apart for holy living and Christian effort, 
and you are happy in the best sense. If it is not 



EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 129 

well with you, why not get these great blessings at 
once; perhaps you have tried and failed, but listen! 
It is said that one of Napoleon's marshals rode 
up to him and said, "General, I fear the battle is 
lost." Napoleon calmly looked at his watch, and re- 
plied: "There is time for another battle; summon 
the army to a fresh charge." We are told that they 
won the day, and so will you if you put yourself 
into the hands of our great Commander, Christ. 



ENDURING TO THE END 

Matthew 10: 22 
But he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 

Christ was sending out His disciples to evangelize 
the world, but before they started on their mission 
he gathered them around Him and warned them of 
the dangers connected with that undertaking, closing 
His remarks with the statement of the text. He is 
still sending out His disciples, and will continue to 
do so as long as time lasts, and His warning and 
promise are the same. There are some qualities we 
must possess if we would succeed in this great work. 

First. We must have that quality known as per- 
severance. 

Some one has said that perseverance is singleness 
of purpose and application on the home stretch. It 
is going to the end of the long pull, the strong pull, 
and the pull together. The negro expressed it very 
well when he said, "Perseverance is to take right 
hold, hold fast, hang on, and no let go." 

"How does Grant impress you as a leading gen- 
eral?" was the question put to Lincoln; and Lincoln 
replied, "Because he is not easily excited and he 
has the grip of the bull-dog. When once he gets 
his teeth in, nothing can shake him off." 

When Columbus was in search of the New World, 

130 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 131 

his crew became discouraged and rose in rebellion. 
They insisted upon turning back instead of going on 
a fool's errand. They thought there was no new 
world to be found, and under the circumstances he 
was obliged to compromise with them. So he prom- 
ised that if they would be patient he would turn in 
three days, unless land was in sight. Before the 
three days had gone by the new world burst upon 
their view and America was the price of his persever- 
ance. 

Many years ago a student was rendered blind by 
a missile, which was thrown by a class-mate. His 
father, who was an eminent lawyer, was educating 
him for the bar, but this calamity changed his plan. 
Strange as it may seem, the boy resolved to become 
an author. He spent ten years of close, systematic 
study, using the eyes of an assistant, before selecting 
his theme. Then he spent ten more years in explor- 
ing archives, old libraries, official documents and 
chronicles. As a result of this perseverance there 
fell from his pen the "History of Ferdinand and 
Isabella," "Mexico," "Peru," and "Philip the Sec- 
ond," works which sent his name around the world 
as that of a great historian. 

May we receive from the hand of God for effective 
service the gift of perseverance. 

Second. In order to persevere we must be deter- 
mined. It will be an impossibility to persevere in 
anything if we are not determined. 



132 EVANGELISTIC SEBMONETTES 

The coveted goal of the century's quest has been 
discovered because Admiral Peary was determined 
to find it. Nearly twenty-five years did he spend in 
pursuit of his one unwavering aim, and never once 
did his faith or determination wane. 

The late John A. Johnson of Minnesota, when 
defeated twice for the senate, said: "I think I get 
along because I can chum with the man who beats 
me. It doesn't hurt me to get licked. There is noth- 
ing like knowing when not to quit." Eegardless of 
difficulties, Johnson pressed forward, and as a re- 
ward for his splendid life, and almost unmatched 
determination, he was returned governor of Minne- 
sota. 

I am reminded here of a piece of poetry which I 
read awhile ago, and here it is: 

' ' The shades of night were falling fast 
As through an Alpine village passed 
A youth who bore, 'mid snow and ice, 
A banner with the strange device, 
Excelsior ! 

His brow was sad, his eye beneath 
Flashed like a falchion from its sheath; 
And like a silver clarion rung 
The accents of that unknown tongue, 
Excelsior ! 

In happy homes he saw the light 
Of household fires gleam warm and bright; 
Above the spectral glaciers shone, 
And from his lips escaped a groan, 
Excelsior ! 



EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 133 

'Try not the pass,' the old man said; 
'Dark lowers the tempest overhead; 
The roaring torrent is deep and wide ! ' 
And loud the clarion voice replied 
Excelsior! 

'Oh, stay,' the maiden said, 'and rest 
Thy weary head upon this breast! ' 
A tear stood in his bright blue eye, 
But still he answered with a sigh, 
Excelsior ! 

1 Beware the pine tree 's withered branch ! 
Beware the awful avalanche ! ' 
This was the peasant's last goodnight; 
A voice replied, far up the height, 

Excelsior ! 

At break of day, as heavenward 
The pious monks of Saint Bernard 
Uttered the oft-repeated prayer, 
A voice cried through the startled air, 
Excelsior ! 

A traveller, by the faithful hound, 
Half buried in the snow was found, 
Still grasping in his hand of ice 
That banner with the strange device, 
Excelsior ! 

There in the twilight, cold and gray, 
Lifeless, but beautiful, he lay; 
And from the sky, serene and fair, 
A voice fell, like a falling star, 
Excelsior! " 

May the highest in Christian excellence be OUT de- 
termination. 



134 EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 

Third. In order that we have the determination 
which is productive of perseverance, it will be neces- 
sary for us to be decisive in our choice. 

In the Bible we find this question: "How long 
halt ye between two opinions ?" We also find in 
the same grand old book the statement that "No man 
can serve two masters." 

Patrick Henry, in one of the greatest speeches ever 
delivered in this country, asked the question: "Is 
life so dear or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at 
the price of chains and slavery ? Forbid it, Almighty 
God! I know not what course others may take, but 
as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" He 
was decisive in his choice, and who will say that he 
did not possess determination and perseverance? 

Can we endure to the end? Decision answers in 
the affirmative. 

Most of us know better than we do; decision en- 
ables us to do better than we know. At the begin- 
ning of the Civil "War Grant thought that he couldn't 
lead a regiment, but his decision fitted him in two 
years to command many regiments. He did better 
than he knew. 

I hope that this hour we make Christ and His 
cause our choice. This decision will be productive 
of the determination and perseverance which are 
necessary to a successful culmination of our God- 
given mission. * 



ABIDE WITH US 

Luke 24: 29 
Abide with us; for it is toward evening. 

After the crucifixion of Jesus two of His disciples 
were journeying to a little village outside the city 
of Jerusalem. And as they went the Saviour Him- 
self drew near and joined in their conversation, but 
strange to say they didn't know Him. The Saviour 
must have changed in appearance since the last time 
they saw Him, perhaps His suffering on the cross 
did it. Nothing changes the appearance of one more 
readily than suffering. I have heard of some folks' 
hair turning white in a night, because of intense 
agony. How often do we think of the suffering 
Jesus? Isn't it true that oftentimes we hear people 
say "What's the use; let us think of something more 
cheerful." The words of Burns are still true, "Man's 
inhumanity to man, makes countless thousands 
mourn." 

Only one week has gone since the terrible boating 
accident in Chicago, and already not much is being 
said about it. I was horrified to read in the Chicago 
Tribune, of last Monday, that on Saturday night, 
while dead bodies were being taken From the river, 

135 



136 EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 

excursion boats, only a few yards away, were being 
filled with pleasure-seekers. 

When Horace Greeley went as a boy from the 
country to New York City, to seek employment; a 
few doors from where he roomed some one had died. 
Young Greeley felt sorry for the bereaved ones and 
inquired from his landlady the cause of the death, 
and who had died. To his great surprise she met 
him with the iceberg answer, "It is none of my af- 
fairs." Greeley packed his trunk and went back 
home; he wanted to be where the milk of human 
kindness could be felt in time of sorrow. 

Isn't it so that Jesus is a different Christ to many 
of us today than the Christ we heard of in our youth ? 
One draws our attention to a warlike Jesus, and 
another draws our attention to a sympathetic Jesus. 
One artist paints Christ with face effeminate and an- 
other artist paints Him with face despotic. I think, 
however, that most of us agree, that we shall never 
know just what Jesus looks like until we wash the 
last sleep from our eyes in the refreshing river of 
heaven. 

There are three thoughts connected with the sen- 
tence at the top of this sermon, which, to my mind, 
are both interesting and suggestive. 

First. They invited Jesus to stay with them that 
night. They were hospitable disciples. Nothing 
makes a stranger feel more at home than hospitality 
of the whole-souled type. Hospitality is kindness to 



EVANGELISTIC SEEMONETTES 137 

every one in general, and to strangers in particular. 
How often do we hear of the far-famed Southern 
hospitality and the praise which comes from those 
who have been in touch with it? Church members 
could well learn a lesson in this, from those early 
disciples. 

Quite often strangers have come to me and said: 
"We feel just as much at home in your church as if 
we belonged to it," and, of course, I have been glad 
to hear them say so. 

Christ had often invited these disciples to come 
and rest; now they invite Him. It may have been 
natural for them to be hospitable, and it may have 
been that companionship with Jesus for three years 
made them so. If the latter, then we see the power 
of good company and a grand example. Courtiers 
are the most polite and courteous citizens one can 
possibly meet, and the reason for that is, because 
they are often in the king's presence. May we never 
be out of our King's presence. 

Second. He accepted their invitation. 

Christ never refuses to enter and bless a home, 
where He is invited. They certainly got a surprise, 
some folks had entertained angels unawares, but 
they had the very Son of God in their home. And 
how sacred that home must have become, and how- 
reserved the seat He occupied. 

On one occasion Queen Victoria visited Scotland, 
and when touring in the Highlands a great rainstorm 



138 EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 

came up. She entered a little cottage until the storm 
passed. When she left, the old lady who owned it, 
got a ribbon and wound it around the chair, saying, 
"Just think, Queen Victoria sat in this chair, isn't 
it wonderful?" and from that day until her death 
she never allowed any one to occupy that chair. 

When Christ comes into our life, how careful we 
should be that no intruder, such as Satan, obscene 
display, or questionable literature, occupy for one 
moment the highest seat which we have given to 
Him. 

A drunken bum, on one occasion, was presented 
with a frock coat, on the ground that he never dis- 
grace it. A year later he saw the man who gave it 
to him, and going up to him said, "I am still wear- 
ing your coat, and praise God I haven't disgraced 
it either by getting drunk. Many a time, when 
tempted to take a drink, I thought of you." 

May we keep clean the garment with which we 
are presented by Christ, when He comes into our 
hearts. 

Third. They invited Him because it was toward 
evening. 

The foxes had holes and the birds of the air had 
nests, but the Son of God had not where to lay His 
head. There was no room for Him in the inn; there 
was no room for Him in the affairs of men; there 
was no room for Him in the synagogue, but praise 
God, there was room for Him, at least during the 



EVANGELISTIC SEKMONETTES 139 

night, in that little home so near the city where He 
was crucified. 

Many put off inviting Him into their heart until 
it is toward evening. How much better it is to in- 
vite Him in the morning of life. And then you could 
sing regarding His friendship, ; 'It is sweeter as the 
years go by." 

I visited a young man who was on his deathbed 
some time ago, and he told me that if he had his life 
to live over again how much more devoted to Christ 
it would be than it had been. The fact was this, he 
didn't invite Christ to come in and tabernacle with 
him, until it was almost night. If you have never 
invited Him to take complete possession of you, do 
it now, and then you w T on 't have to say : 

"Must I go, and empty-handed 
Must I meet my Saviour so? 
Not one soul with which to greet him, 
Must I empty-handed go?" 



WHY MEN WONT COME TO CHRIST 

John 5 : 40 
And ye will not come unto me, that ye might have life. 

This is one of the saddest utterances that ever fell 
from the lips of Christ. 

After healing their sick, and cleansing their lepers, 
and raising their dead, and casting out devils, He 
was compelled to say, "And ye will not come unto 
Me that ye might have life." Nearly 1900 years 
have gone since then, and during all that time won- 
ders have been worked by Christ through the Holy 
Spirit and human instrumentality for the benefit of 
men, and yet very many of them will not come unto 
Him. 

They remind me of a story that John Anderson, 
the Scotch evangelist, told. Said he, "One morning, 
while at breakfast, I saw a little robin on the snow- 
covered window-sill; it was very cold and hungry 
looking. I raised the window and put out my hand 
with some crumbs on it. The robin came and picked 
up the crumbs. I thought it was so tame that all I 
had to do was to turn over my hand and lift it, but 
when I attempted to do so it flew away." Is that 
not like the way the average man is treating God? 
He receives every needed blessing from Him, but 

140 



EVANGELISTIC SEEMOXETTES 141 

when sought for the Kingdom of Christ he runs 
away. 

I am going to speak to you at this time of some 
reasons why I think that men and women are stay- 
ing outside the Kingdom of God. 

First. Because of the love of sin. 

Sin has been in the world ever since our first par- 
ents disobeyed God in Eden, and it will remain as 
long as man lives or time lasts. David says, "Be- 
hold, I was born in sin and shapen in iniquity." 
Paul says, "There is no difference, for all have 
sinned and come short of the glory of God." Sin 
has ruined homes and wrecked lives and sent young 
men and women to the grave years before their time. 
Dr. Guthrie says, "Like a snowdrift, when it has 
leveled the church-yard mounds, and glistening in 
the winter sun, lies so pure and fair and beautiful 
above the dead, who fester and rot below; a very 
plausible profession, wearing the semblance of inno- 
cence, may conceal from human eyes the foulest heart 
corruption. The grass grows upon a mountain thai 
holds a volcano in its bowels. Behind the rosy 
cheek and soft lustrous eye of beauty, how often 
does there lurk a deadly disease, the deadliest of all ! 
Even so sin has its seat within. It is a disease of the 
heart, and the worst of all heart complaints." 

At the close of a revival service in a church in 
Chicago one night a young man was urged to come 
to Christ, but he would not. And the reason lie gave 



142 EVANGELISTIC SEKMONETTES 

was worded something like this: U I am entangled 
in the meshes of a disgusting sin, and I am not ready- 
to give it up." 

The Christian can truthfully say: 

"O cross of Christ, like ocean depths, 
My sins are swallowed up in thee; 
Covered is my unrighteousness 
And from its course my soul set free." 

Second. The love of pleasure. 

The average man, with his limited knowledge of 
the Bible, is of the opinion that coming to Christ 
will rob him of enjoyment for the remainder of his 
life ; while the truth of the matter is this : The hap- 
piest people on earth are those enlisted in heaven's 
army and who are fighting the good fight of faith. 
I think it was Talmage who said, "When I see a man 
of regal nature made to rule in the realm of thought, 
capable of all moral elevation, besotting his faculties 
and attempting out of low sensualities to satisfy his 
immoral energies, coming down from the throne of 
truth and morality and dipping himself in the mire 
of sinful pleasure, I feel like shouting, 'Man, you 
have lost your kingdom and are on your way to ab- 
solute ruin.' " I believe it was the same preacher 
who said, "when I see a woman whom God hath 
endowed with influence more than imperial and mag- 
netism of personal presence and charm of smile and 
manner, capable of soothing deep-set sorrow, coming 
down from the throne of purity and finding her only 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 143 

delight in the midnight gaiety of the ballroom and 
the flatteries of brain-bewildered men, a spectacle of 
vanity and frivolity, I feel like shouting, ' Woman, 
you have lost your kingdom, and all because of the 
love of sinful pleasure.' " The Christian enjoyment 
is real, while men and women of the world often 
look happy w r hen they are not far from being miser- 
able. 

I have in mind a man who lived in St. Louis, and 
who was looked on by those who knew him as being 
the happiest man they ever met. But he was a world- 
ling and cared nothing for the Church of God. I 
shook hands with him one night at the close of a 
picnic, and he looked happy, but the next day at 
noon, he drank carbolic acid, committing suicide, and 
proving that underneath his apparent pleasure he 
was of all men most miserable. 

Third. Because of the fear of man. 

I am of the opinion that there are more cowards in 
the world than we anticipate, and that the chief 
reason why a good many men and women will not 
become Christians is because of the fear of men. 
Solomon says, "The fear of man bringeth a snare," 
and Christ says, "Fear not them that kill the body 
and after that can do no more, but rather fear him 
who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." 
There are many young men and women in the slums 
of our cities tonight living a life of sin, and all be- 
cause they were afraid of offending a so-called friend 



144 EVANGELISTIC SEBMONETTES 

by refusing to go to a place of questionable amuse- 
ment with him. A man told me about being out 
with the boys one evening and, despite the fact that 
he had made a profession of conversion and was a 
church member, at their request he went into a sa- 
loon with them. And when they were ordering their 
drinks he ordered the same kind, with the result that 
he became intoxicated, and for years afterward he 
lived the life of a backslider. I believe that there 
are tens of thousands of people living today, who 
could testify as that man did. 

"What is it that is keeping you away from Christ? 
Is it the love of sin? Is it the love of sinful pleas- 
ure? Is it the fear of man? Whatever keeps you 
away from the Son of God is your enemy, no matter 
what it is, and better get rid of it. If you wish to 
break away from that which binds you in sin, re- 
member that Christ will help you to do it. Wesley 
was right when he said: 

' e He breaks the power of cancelled sin, 
He sets the prisoner free; 
His blood can make the vilest clean, 
His blood avails for me." 



THE SECOND COMING 

James 5: 8 
The coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 

The second coming of Jesus Christ to this earth, 
to me is one of the interesting and precious promises 
in the word of God. And in this little sermon I am 
going to speak of the certainty of His coming, the 
purpose of His coming, and the time of His coming. 

First. The certainty. 

At His ascension the angels said to those who were 
present when He went up, "Ye men of Galilee, why 
stand ye gazing up into heaven, for this same Jesus 
that ye have seen go into heaven shall so come in 
like manner." 

When John was banished to the Isle of Patmos 
for preaching the gospel, God revealed to him a 
great many things which should come to pass, and 
the second coming of Jesus was one of them, as re- 
corded in the first chapter of Revelation and worded : 
"Behold He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall 
see Him. " The second coming is spoken of in the 
New Testament more than three hundred times ; there- 
fore, it must not only be a certainty, but also an 
event of great importance. But Satan has blinded 

145 



146 EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 

the eyes and hardened the heart and deafened the 
ears of many professing Christians regarding this 
great truth. In the days of Noah there were many 
who laughed at the prediction of a world deluge, but 
that did not alter God's plan, for the deluge came 
and all but eight persons were drowned. And 
Christ said: "As it was in the days of Noah, so 
shall it be in the days of the coming of the Son of 
Man." 

In the days of Lot many scoffed at the idea that 
Sodom was to be burned up, because of its wicked- 
ness; but that did not change God's plan, for Sodom 
was burned, and only Lot, his wife, and two daugh- 
ters, escaped its flames. In the days of Jeremiah 
men were absolutely certain that a mistake had been 
made in the prophecy that Jerusalem with all its 
grandeur would be reduced to ruins. But his- 
torians outside of the Bible tell us that Jerusalem 
was overtaken with one of the most appalling 
sieges in the world's history, that its buildings 
were thrown down, and that its streets ran red 
with blood. 

If the Bible is the Word of God (which I believe 
it to be), then Jesus Christ is coming again, regard- 
less of how some good people may speak against it. 
A good way to judge the future regarding prophecy 
is by the past, and if the predictions of the past have 
come true, then why not believe the statements in 
the Bible regarding the future? 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 147 

Dr. Gray has well said: 

"Why say ye not a word of bringing back the king 
"Why speak ye not of Jesus and his reign? 
"Why tell ye of his glory and of his praises sing, 
"But not a word about his coming back again V 

Second. The purpose. 

Shortly before His crucifixion Christ said to His 
followers: "I go to prepare a place for you, and if 
I go and prepare a place for you I will come again 
and receive you unto Myself that where I am there 
ye may be also." This is only part of the purpose of 
Christ's coming, and the other part is found in the 
closing verses of the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew, 
relative to the wicked: "These shall go away into 
everlasting punishment." So, from these quota- 
tions, we learn that Christ is coming to reward His 
followers and to punish His enemies. 

The parable of the nobleman spoken of in the nine- 
teenth chapter of Luke is a good illustration of what 
is happening now and of what will happen then. I 
believe that the interpretation of that parable is this : 
Christ is the Nobleman, His disciples are the serv- 
ants, and His enemies are the non-Christian. Well 
might the hymn-writer say : 

"Our Lord is now rejected. 
And by the world disowned, 
By the many still neglected 
And by the few enthroned; 



148 EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 

But soon He'll come in glory! 
The hour is drawing nigh, 
For the crowning day is coming 
Bye-and-bye. 



Our pain shall then be over, 
We'll sin and sigh no more; 
Behind us all of sorrow 
And naught but joy before; 
A joy in our Redeemer 
As we to him are nigh 
In the crowning day that's coming 
Bye-and-bye. ' ' 



A salvation army lassie succeeded in getting a 
drunkard on one occasion to sign the pledge against 
ever again using strong drink. When he had done 
so, he turned to her and said, "I suppose at head- 
quarters you'll get half-a-crown when you report 
this pledge?" She replied, "We are better paid 
than that. I'll get a whole crown, and there will be 
stars in it." 

Third. The time. 

The disciples wanted to know when He would re- 
turn, but He said unto them: "Of that day and 
hour knoweth no one, but what I say unto you all 
is: Watch." 

A man was spending his vacation in the country 
with his wife and children. One day he had to go 
into the city, to his own sorrow, and the sorrow of 
the family. When he left he told his children: "I 



EVANGELISTIC SERMONETTES 149 

will be coming back soon, and I want you to watch 
for me." The children never before showed such a 
liking for soap and water, and they went down to 
the station to meet every train, thinking that he 
might be on it. So the fact that we don't know 
when Christ will come suggests to us the idea of 
keeping clean, so that when He comes we shall be 
presentable. 

A good many years ago, when the Connecticut 
legislature was in session, one day at noon it became 
so dark that the chickens went to roost. The people 
thought that the end of the world had come, and 
some member of the legislature moved an adjourn- 
ment. Just then an old saint arose and said, "I 
know that many of you are of the opinion that the 
Judgment Day has arrived, and may be it has; but 
as our duties are always obligatory I move that in- 
stead of adjourning we send out for candles and 
proceed with the order of the day. If Christ comes 
today I want to be found at my post of duty." 

And, friends, so may it be with us till Jesus comes. 



Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: Oct. 2005 

PreservatioiiTechnologies 

A WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATION 

1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 
(724)779-2111 






LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



' : - '■- s *...''!.!.*. " .1 .- f* r* 




017 040 548 1 












':•.-'.:■ - 


!?!il; 










ill: ■:: ; 











ij : ; ; ::; ■;::::.:;.::: 

























! 






: 






























I! .; 


























































H 













" ; ' ■ . '•' ■ '■; / 







